Hi, I’m Beth Smith!
I am head cook and bottle washer for Piecrust & Pasta. My first vivid food memories are of me sitting on a stool in the corner of my mother’s kitchen jabbering at my Nonnie or just watching while she would whip up one of her delicious chocolate cakes, finally dropping the batter-speckled beaters and lightly scraped bowl into my grubby paws for a few moments of sweet bliss. That food association is very strong for me. Feeding is love and care.
Why I blog
My own adventures in cooking started not long after, baking the classic Wacky Cake of my childhood. With a mother who is a wonderful baker herself, but an even better cook and aunts from all sides of the family with their own repertoires and personal styles, I have many lifetimes of talent and recipes to cull through, cook for the family, and share with you all. There are some I will not; you’re welcome. There was a strong era of aspic and Jell-O molds and an aunt who once made scrambled eggs with Crisco as the fat. These will remain in the realm of family lore.
And now here I am, married to BD and the mother of three, making my own food memories for my people. We live in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. Other than a 10 year stint in Richmond, VA, and a wretched freshman year in the land of no sun (Western Pennsylvania … sorry folks from that area but it wilted me), I have lived within 25 miles of my birth place. This has given me the wander bug; I have made it a point to travel as much as possible to see the country and the world. I have eaten many wonderful meals and gained a great perspective on how food keeps us together as families and in community and helps us find common ground when we are strangers no matter where we break bread in the world.
My inspiration
Ultimately, this blog is an ode to my Nonnie, Wilma T. Polvinale (1920 – 2011) and to all of those fabulous home cooks who created the taste memories we build on with our own families. Nonnie, though a wonderful cook, very rarely wrote down a recipe. And if she did, the original version would soon become a distant memory as she tweaked and updated to suit her tastes. My goal is to dig into family recipes, stories and family gray matter to create a library available for my children, family and friends (old and new) to enjoy, build on, and tweak to their heart’s content. I include my own recipes as well since I, too, may one day be a Nonnie (though I am leaning toward GrandQueen or something equally regal) and hope that my kids and theirs will want to carry on the traditions and share the stories.
Love a place where all of my favorite recipes are easy to get to!!
Welcome! You’re my first guest at my new place. Poke around and tell me what you think. All comments appreciated.
A friend has asked me to ask you is there’s a possibility to get the recipe for the peach cobbler your Aunt Dot took to St Mary’s bake sales.
Any chance of getting that recipe for me?
Hi Barb! I’ll ask Aunt Dot if she still has the recipe and send it along to you if she does. If not, I’ll see if she can try to recreate … we do that a lot around here when people say, “hey, do you remember that recipe you used to make….”
Barb, Aunt Dot passed along this recipe. Though it’s not her original (she didn’t have it), it’s just like the one she made. Please let me know how it turns out. Thanks!
The recipe would help: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/51535/fresh-southern-peach-cobbler/print/?recipeType=Recipe&servings=4
Follow you on Instagram and have found your blog… Look forward to your recipes!
Welcome and thank you, Janice! Love to hear what you think about recipes.
Beth, your blog is delightful! I once met Nonnie (Wilma)…. many years ago. What a great idea to honor her memory this way! I so much identify with the things you write (and the way you write!). Recipes were not used so we watched and reproduced as memory would allow. “Authentic” ingredients can make all the difference….so it helps to have an Italian food market close by! One of these days, I’ll take the time to work out a recipe on paper, to share with you. In the meantime, mangia!
Diane, Thanks so much for the kind feedback! I love this project and am enjoying the process with the family. You’d be amazed at what sorts of conversations come from the food conversations. Looking forward to any recipes you might want to share. In the meantime, I’ve got the ladies working on braciole. Best, Beth
Love that I just discovered this! Love all your family meals. Miss ya lots!❤️❤️Tracey
Hi there, Tracey! Glad that you found me. Hope all is well with you and the family. I stalk on FB and see the kids are growing but you keep looking the same. Must be nice. Smooches!
Love your blog! Your Mom and Aunt do not age! Must be the food:)
Thank you, Mary Ann! I’ll let the old broads know. I kid. I kid.