Some of the best recipes for food, such as chili, that are meant for family gatherings and other special occasions come from family members that have passed them down for generations. If the saying goes, food is love, then passing down a homemade chili recipe is one way of expressing your love.
Some have said that, as our food choices expand, our interest in learning and recreating these recipes of homemade chili or our favorite casserole has decreased. As more food becomes accessible all year long instead of certain times of the year, our culinary prowess has grown. We are not forced to make do with what is available during specific seasonal times for certain crops or produce. In fact, you can now buy a mango in the middle of winter in Utah. We can basically get what we want when we want it, even if that means ordering it on Amazon. But does this mean these homemade recipes for funeral potatoes or chili must go to the way-side?
If you said no, then I’d agree with you. If you think back even just a couple of generations, most dishes were made primarily from scratch. Recipes were handed down for generations, and some families may even be known specifically for certain dishes such as chili. There possibly may even be people who have never had a home-cooked meal made from a recipe handed down by their grandmother: everything they consume, a pre-packaged store-bought food like chili in the can. Now there is no shame in that, but they are definitely missing out on some love that has been handed down with care.
So, in respect to your elders, having a chili or stew recipe handed down is like having their wisdom. While cooking, you may find yourself remembering what it was like to spend time with them or nostalgic feelings of your childhood. And while it most likely won’t turn the heads of any Michelin starred chefs, it will still be wolfed down by you and your loved ones, and it can be a part of your history.
While the appeal for expanding on our passed down recipes for chili and pasta dishes, leaving them in the past does not seem right. These foods are a part of who we are today. And one can only hope that everyone will continue to pass them, allowing our loved ones who passed them down to live on, in essence, forever.
Six Sisters Stuff have tons of homemade recipes for chili, stew, birthday cakes, and so much more! If you looking to expand on your home cooking skills you need to check out their website.
