My mother donned brown polyester pants and a gold smock to work as a hotel maid scrubbing floors and toilets. But when she stepped into her own kitchen, she wore a frilly apron, played Vivaldi on the stereo, and with a flip of her spatula and more than a pat or two of butter, became the queen of her realm. THE KITCHEN QUEEN OF FISH POT ROAD celebrates my memories of Mom’s Western Pennsylvania kitchen. She proved every day that living a good life has more to do with attitude than with money.
This blog will offer recipes and stories about growing up in Western Pennsylvania and, of course, reflections about my mother and the food of my memory. In the meantime, here’s a few of the kitchen rules my mother often spouted:
- Bigger is always better. (Bigger slices, thicker pie, more of everything.)
- Never skimp on butter.
- Icing is for sissies. Powdered sugar is prettier, takes less time, and isn’t as sweet.
- A little bit of hard work never killed anybody.Put a little music on and scrub your kitchen floor.
- You can use a cast-iron skillet for almost everything.
- Being poor is no excuse for crime, for a lack of cleanliness, lack of self-respect, or eating junk food like potato chips or sugary cereals.
- Low-fat, my ass.
- If you use your hands for mixing, it always tastes better.
- Just fry it and don’t worry about your arteries, it’s impolite to mention arteries at the dinner table, anyway.
I’m betting that we all know a Kitchen Queen of Fish Pot Road. Or maybe we each have a little of the Kitchen Queen in us. I know I do. Welcome to my blog. I’d love to hear from you.
Mollie Cox Bryan says
LOL! Jack and my Mom would get along perfectly.
Leslie Ingersoll says
I look foward to reading your blog. I agree with Julia Child & Paula Deen….more butter makes everything better!
Roz Cummins says
This is fabulous. I can’t wait to read more!
mollie says
Thanks Roz and Leslie. Stay tuned. There will be more. We may even hear from my mother at some point.
Monica Bhide says
How fun! I am so excited for you and cannot wait to read more. i love the title!
Mollie Cox Bryan says
Thanks so much Monica!
MollyFulton says
I think I like your mother very much.
Mollie Cox Bryan says
I’m sure my mother would like you, too, Molly. 😉
Kristie says
Where did I put that iron skillet? I need to dig it out and “season” it (whatever that means).
Roopa says
wow…great to read a short, sweet…yet educative material like this…
E Paiz says
If you’re going to put music on while scrubbing the kitchen floor, may I suggest Buddha Pie. He likes Pie, Peace and Music.
Laura Jeanne Hansen says
Is your mom’s recipe for the cabbage casserole a family recipe or a Pittsburgh based recipe?
Yolonda says
My grandmother Faye (she of the Red Velvet Cake recipe) would love this Mollie! Your mom sounds like a lot of fun to me.
mollie says
Thanks for commenting, Yolonda. And, yes, my Mom can be a lot of fun—along with a few other things. Ahem. Hope you get a chance to look around the blog and read more about her.
Twana Mikelsen says
The prince of wales will probably be 100 by the time the woman calls it a day.
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harley davidson says
Good is good, but better carries it.
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