Giving Thanks

Giving Thanks

There were always pies. Pumpkin custard, of course, but also double-crusted apple. Lemon custard with a golden-tipped meringue (my mother’s favorite) might be added, though there were only six of us. If our Thanksgiving feast was going to be shared with relatives,...
Tales of Toys

Tales of Toys

We called my great-grandmother Nanny. Her toy chest was a worn wicker laundry basket filled with wooden spools (all that remained after their sewing thread had stitched and mended clothing or other torn fabric during the Great Depression or World War II), an iron from...
Soft Pretzels and German Brown Mustard

Soft Pretzels and German Brown Mustard

I understand that there are people who cannot imagine putting any kind of mustard on pretzels. I get that. I can’t imagine putting yellow mustard on anything. Pretzels, of course, should be paired with German-style brown mustard. This is no advertisement, but I grew...