What was your Grandpa’s speciality?
By
Gerry Niskern
Lucky was the grandkid in our family that got to go home for lunch from the shop with Grandpa. They knew they were going to have “fried baloney sandwiches.” They were not given a choice of something else because that’s all their Grandpa knew how to cook!
The grandkid was given the job of getting out the bread, mustard and a couple of plates. Grandpa put the beat up and blackened old skillet on the stove and soon had the slices of baloney fryng. You might say the slices were actually being cremated as they were burned to a crisp when they landed on the bread. Any restaurant would describe it as “blackened” baloney.The skillet was put away to be used again the next day, not washed, just delegated to “baloney frying only” by Grandma.
When I was telling the story of my dad’s culinary skills one day a friend spoke up and told us about the great breakfast’s her Grandad used to make when they visited her Grandad in Tennessee, who was a hog farmer. She said she and her siblings thought they died and went to heaven when he served the bacon, sausages and even a pork chop if desired; this along with the creamiest scrambled eggs you ever tasted. Since their mother was a cream of wheat with skim milk for breakfast kind of mom, they loved trips to the farm.
Years ago I worked with a Mexican woman in my parent’s business who brought wonderful fresh homemade tortillas to work every day. Her Grandfather lived with them and got up before dawn to make the family tortillas every morning. He loved to make them for her and the grandkids.
My family remembers when Grandpa Kenny took over the ice cream making. I thought I was doing fine, but he insisted on trying his hand and of course everyone said his ice cream was better. Why wouldn’t it be with all the extra sugar and heavy cream he added?
Of course, all fathers are expected to cook now, but years ago most Grandpas had just one specialty they had perfected; the specialty they were remembered for.
I have a feeling that if a contest was held today to name the best Grandpa cook, the adult kids in our family would still vote for the griller of the fried baloney sandwiches!
Gerry Niskern
Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
My grandpa or Gaga as we called him fried baloney up too with tortillas he had made that morning. We also had his delicious corn beef hash that I’ve never had any that duplicated his since .
Loved to hear about your Grandpas cooking!
I don’t remember my Granddad ever cooking other then ice cream after Grandma had prepared it. He spent his time keeping my brothers and l busy fishing, digging worms, picking up acorns for the pigs and other chores. I have beautiful memories of my Granddad. He was Granddad. Over the years I’ve noticed we have have changed it to Grandpa. He lived to be 102.
Hi Janet, thanks for your comment
Only one thing better than Grandpa’s fried baloney sandwiches, was Grandma’s meatloaf! Now I can reproduce the baloney sandwich – no problem, but somehow no one in the family managed to nab that special meatloaf recipe, and no other meatloaf comes close. Just sayin’.
Don’t look at me!