Grandma had the best outlook on life.  More than anyone that I ever met in my lifetime!  She loved life and her family and always wanted us to feel at home in her home.  She did not come from money nor did she ever have a lot even in her later life. That never stopped her from always giving to us with the few pennies that she had.

She was known for her pot roast and potatoes ….I have never had anyone make it soooo good and delicious as she did.  I can remember one Sunday afternoon we headed over to her apartment for Sunday lunch, and of course for the pot roast.  After lunch she asked me to get the table set for dessert.  Normally Grandma was not a baker of any type.  Her best effort was a crumb cake from Entenmann’s bakery.  But this day was different…she told me she had some brownies instead. ‘YES”…I was so excited since I love brownies.

I helped her get the table all set with coffee cups, the sugar and creamer, cake plates etc….As everyone gathered back to the table for dessert she handed me “the box”…yes a brownie box. Then she told me to put in on her special fancy flowered plate. My eyebrow raised….and I looked at her with a silly look.  “Grandma did you bake these already”…she replied, “no they come all made in the box already”.  Oh dear….as she called back again to me she said…”look at the picture on the box”.

Well lesson learned that day!  Grandma learned that brownie mix is a mix only and yes it needed to be baked.  The whole family had a good laugh about it over a cup of coffee.  That day I taught her how to make the brownies and we enjoyed them all yummy and warm with some more coffee.

These precious memories are still with me even after almost 28 years after her passing.  She was a remarkable woman and taught me so much about life and living and how to handle myself in tough situations.  And I was glad to be able to teach her one thing….even if it was just brownies.

Do you have any funny stories to share about recipes with your grandma? Leave a comment below and share with all of us!

Lynn A. Wilson – Resume of a Mother