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.
Thanks, Patricia! My Aunt Gerda was a true original and definitely ahead of her time. I don't know if she knew Alice Waters, though probably not. They probably would have had a lot in common in terms of cooking seasonally, being passionate about gardens and making creative use of their bounty in her cuisine. In a way that also describes you, I think!💕
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 😊
Thank you, Elizabeth! She was very, very cool and particularly beloved by her nieces and, I guess, her grand nieces! I forgot to mention in my piece how very stylish she always was, with wonderful big earrings, colorful scarves and a cool way of putting outfits together like no one else. Thanks for sharing the story about the inlaid fish earrings. I can almost remember them! No worries re matzo ball recipe. It will be coming soon.❤️
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!
Wow, that's high praise, Maggie! Thanks so very much! I do love remembering these woman, amazing in so many ways, especially given the constrictions and unfair expectations of their times. I'm very glad if my writing triggers memories for others--it's a major reason why I'm doing this.😊
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.
Thanks so very much, Dan! I was wondering about the perceived inequity of the cleanup job, so it's nice to know Gerda didn't discriminate in that way between her son and her daughters! She was quite a feminist after all!😘
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!
Thanks so much, Jolene! This was a fun one because it brought someone I cared about back to life for me. I hope to find and share some more of Gerda's photos in a future post. She was one of a kind.
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.
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
Oh thank you, Annette! That’s high praise indeed. Gerda did have something of the joie de vivre of a Julia Child and was a marvelous teacher who communicated her love of photography, food, gardening, nature to whomever was in her orbit. I will share that matzo ball recipe soon. It’s really quite wonderful. I always enjoy reading about your memories of California!
I wish I'd met her! I've met extraordinary people everywhere, but CA was especially rich in one of a kinds, and I mean that in a good way. 😀 And thank you in advance!
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!)
Thanks, Sinù! She was a remarkable photographer. She wrote a book of photos documenting the final days of an old man called “Valentina’s Uncle.” I believe it’s available on Amazon. She had a number of exhibits of her photos too and her work is in the Oakland Museum of California.
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.
Thanks, Patricia! My Aunt Gerda was a true original and definitely ahead of her time. I don't know if she knew Alice Waters, though probably not. They probably would have had a lot in common in terms of cooking seasonally, being passionate about gardens and making creative use of their bounty in her cuisine. In a way that also describes you, I think!💕
Another wonderful story. I love the way you evoke the times as well as sharing recipes.
Thanks so much, Marg!
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 😊
Thank you, Elizabeth! She was very, very cool and particularly beloved by her nieces and, I guess, her grand nieces! I forgot to mention in my piece how very stylish she always was, with wonderful big earrings, colorful scarves and a cool way of putting outfits together like no one else. Thanks for sharing the story about the inlaid fish earrings. I can almost remember them! No worries re matzo ball recipe. It will be coming soon.❤️
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
Wow, that's high praise, Maggie! Thanks so very much! I do love remembering these woman, amazing in so many ways, especially given the constrictions and unfair expectations of their times. I'm very glad if my writing triggers memories for others--it's a major reason why I'm doing this.😊
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.
Thanks so very much, Dan! I was wondering about the perceived inequity of the cleanup job, so it's nice to know Gerda didn't discriminate in that way between her son and her daughters! She was quite a feminist after all!😘
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!
Thanks so much, Jolene! This was a fun one because it brought someone I cared about back to life for me. I hope to find and share some more of Gerda's photos in a future post. She was one of a kind.
Yes. I make her carrot cake and minestrone, to name just a couple.
I bet they're delicious!😘
No, I did meet her at your apartment on Oak Street. We spent a delightful evening together. ❤️
Gee, Burt, thanks for the reminder. Your memory is better than mine. We did have some fun times. 💖
Beautiful. Neither food nor cooking were important in my family so your stories make me wonder why. Food for thought?
Food for another post about you!❤️
I loved reading this story! Thank you for sharing such special memories.
Thanks so much, Julia!🤗
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.
Thanks, Vicki! Do you make any of them?
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
Oh thank you, Annette! That’s high praise indeed. Gerda did have something of the joie de vivre of a Julia Child and was a marvelous teacher who communicated her love of photography, food, gardening, nature to whomever was in her orbit. I will share that matzo ball recipe soon. It’s really quite wonderful. I always enjoy reading about your memories of California!
I wish I'd met her! I've met extraordinary people everywhere, but CA was especially rich in one of a kinds, and I mean that in a good way. 😀 And thank you in advance!
So happy I got to meet dear Gerda!
Do you mean metaphorically or did you actually meet her years ago? I can’t remember, Burt! Hope all is well. 💕
She was clearly ahead of her time. Wow
Thanks, Ellen. She was! An inspiration in many ways.
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!)
Thanks, Sinù! She was a remarkable photographer. She wrote a book of photos documenting the final days of an old man called “Valentina’s Uncle.” I believe it’s available on Amazon. She had a number of exhibits of her photos too and her work is in the Oakland Museum of California.
You must be so proud of her. I'll check her work out, thank you :)
Thanks, Sinù! I am. I wish there was a website featuring her work. Maybe I’ll have to create one!😊
Wouldn't that be a wonderful tribute 🙏🏼
Thanks so very, very much, ea! 😊