35 Comments

Wow!! I love Aunt Gerda. She was a woman ahead of her time. Wonder if she got to know Alice Waters. Great stories and a delicious recipe. I can see with those fruit trees how this would be her go-to dessert.

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Another wonderful story. I love the way you evoke the times as well as sharing recipes.

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Loved reading this story. Gerda

was very cool. She gave me this big silver disc earrings that had a fish Inlayed into them when I was like 12 maybe and I thought, I will never wear these crazy things. And then years later, I realized how cool they were and I wore them every day in college.

I also would love Ilsa’s matzoh ball recipes. They were soooooo good. But I guess that’s for the Ilsa blog post 😊

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May 23, 2022Liked by Ruth Stroud

I really enjoy your family newsletter your writing is wonderful and your memories really are contagious for me thinking of my memories especially with my grandparents. Your Aunt and Mother really sound like renaissance woman. Thank you for sharing!

Maggie

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May 23, 2022Liked by Ruth Stroud

Ruth, you honor our memories of our mother and bring her back to life in such a wonderful way. I never had any idea how she managed to serve such fine meals, night after night. Nor, often, how she managed her life as a whole. Margalit, I would remind you that before Dalia and you were old enough to clean up Mother's kitchen, the job fell to me, by myself, for a long time. No regrets.

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Oh, Ruth, this is such a wonderful story! I love hearing about your Aunt Gerda and now you have her recipe box filled with treasures. Lovely interview with Margalit, I can’t wait to hear more. And, Wow! The photography! Thanks for this beautiful writing about your charming and colorful Aunt!

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Yes. I make her carrot cake and minestrone, to name just a couple.

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May 22, 2022Liked by Ruth Stroud

No, I did meet her at your apartment on Oak Street. We spent a delightful evening together. ❤️

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May 22, 2022Liked by Ruth Stroud

Beautiful. Neither food nor cooking were important in my family so your stories make me wonder why. Food for thought?

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I loved reading this story! Thank you for sharing such special memories.

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What a heart-warming story about food and family. I love the recipes that my mom wrote out by hand and tucked into a letter that she was sending to me. Thanks for sharing.

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Gerda should have had her own TV show. I was hoping for the matzo ball recipe made with ground almonds, which really sounds lovely. I kept trying matzo balls (despite not being Jewish) until someone made them beautifully light, and they were a revelation. I imagine almond flour would be a big plus. By the way, this piece made me nostalgic for my beloved Northern California. ❤️ Lovely read, Ruth

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May 22, 2022Liked by Ruth Stroud

So happy I got to meet dear Gerda!

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May 22, 2022Liked by Ruth Stroud

She was clearly ahead of her time. Wow

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Thank you for introducing us to your amazing aunt, Ruth. How fortunate that you could retrieve your mom's recipe book, too. I'm about to listen to the podcast with your cousin now :)

(I'm still getting my head around the fact that she learned photography with Ansel Adams and co. I'd love to see her work!)

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deletedMay 22, 2022Liked by Ruth Stroud
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