Happy Valentine's Day

Every Valentine's Day I remember those I love who are no longer with us. My Mother, my Father, my Grandmother, my Son, and Cousin Sandra they contributed so much to who I am in more than the usual ways.

My Grandmother was a very beautiful woman who sang with the San Francisco Opera. She never seemed to be aware of her extraordinary beauty. I spent hours watching her applying makeup, mixing creams and lotions at her 8 foot long dressing table. She taught me to make the best of what god gave me and not to take anything for granted.
Perhaps her greatest gift to me was her love of food, cooking and entertaining. She was a natural born cook who never used a recipe or owned a cookbook. I was sure she had a cookbook hidden somewhere but it really never existed.

My Mother was a wonderful cook as well, getting her love for it from my Grandmother. Nothing was ever too much for my Mother. She would attempt anything when it came to cooking. If she couldn't find a recipe, she would improvise until she got it. Her gift to me was the importance of family and how important it is to cherish every moment with them.

My Father did not cook but loved to eat and was by far the best audience one could have, always making you feel that you had just invented the recipe of the Century. No one could make you feel more appreciated after a day preparing a special dinner. All this plus his love for reading and learning are his special gifts to me.

My son Twigi was red-headed with a feisty disposition to match. As a child he loved to tell stories, real and imagined. He loved spaghetti and when asked about it he said I love it, but I don't kiss it. I never think of him without remembering what a short time we have here on earth and how important it is to make the most of it. His daughter Antjelina is his greatest gift to me.

My cousin Sandra was a gifted painter and photographer and exhibited in museums and galleries in San Francisco. Her interest in photography was encouraged by Ansel Adams with whom she studied for many years. This resulted in extensive work with Polaroid.Sandie was a great story teller and enjoyed nothing more than a good meal, interesting conversation and a good stiff drink. As artistic as she was she never cared for cooking, but enjoying good food was her forte.
She gave me a sense of wonder and an appreciation for nature and the beauty in our surroundings.
Here is a favorite family recipe:

SWEDISH OVEN PANCAKES FOR BRUNCH OR LUNCH
3 Slices of Bacon
2 Cups Milk
� Cup Flour
2 T. Sugar
3/4 Tsp. salt
3 Eggs
1/2 Pint Whipping Cream
1 Jar Lingonberries or 2 Packages frozen Raspberries

In a large cast iron skillet about 9 inches in diameter, saut� Bacon until crisp. (Do not pour off drippings). Sift flour, measure, and then sift again with sugar and salt. Beat eggs lightly with milk. Stir into dry ingredients, mixing until smooth. Pour batter over the crisp bacon drippings in skillet and bake in a moderate oven 350 degrees, 20-30 minutes until set and golden brown. Pancake will be high and fluffy and will fall immediately, therefore serve right out of the oven. While pancake is cooking whip cream, add 2 Tsp. Powdered Sugar and fruit. Place a dab of this concoction on each serving. This is very rich and needs a light fruit salad or fresh fruit as an accompaniment.

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