Blending food, and families
June 16, 2008
Decades later, my friend Jessica's mouth waters when she remembers her stepmother's cooking. "My mother and my great aunt, who lived with us, were immigrants. They cooked peasant food, and never used a cookbook." But her stepmother read gourmet magazines and introduced Jessica to the extravagant salmon en croute.
But bear in mind that Jessica has always been an adventurous eater. And even she admits the she enjoyed her stepmother's cooking only after they started getting along.
Nobody said that stepparenting was easy. And many kids would take peasant food (or whatever food they are accustomed to at home) over salmon en croute any day.
Still, having regular meals together shows the new family in action. Agreeing on a rotation of foods, a set of standards for behavior, can ease the way toward a new order.
If two sets of children are involved, you might start by taking turns deciding what to serve. Keep it tasty and low key (unless you have a family of foodies like Jessica.)
The recipe for creating new families requires careful watching and cannot be rushed. But regular shared meals are an important way to help a new family gel.
Mealtimes Matter Video
from Miriam Weinstein
About Miriam
Miriam Weinstein is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. As a journalist, she has won several awards from the New England Press Association. Her work has appeared in Boston Magazine, the Boston Globe magazine, Hope, and ParentSource. A former staff member for North Shore Weeklies and freelancer for Essex County Newspapers, she writes restaurant reviews and food columns as well as features on a wide variety of subjects. She lives in Gloucester, Massachusetts, with her husband and has two grown children.
The Surprising Power of Family Meals
In her book, The Surprising Power of Family Meals, Miriam Weinstein shows how this basic human institution helps nourish and strengthen our families today. You can buy this book from our friends at Smucker's® Online Store.
