The series of questions for my family on their life in food continues. If you missed my dad’s or my answers, feel free to review what was missed. If you’ve been following along, thank you!

Linda as a young girl at Crystal Beach

Linda B.  - Born in 1948 (wife of Andy, mother to Jodi and Jeff)

If you were given a dollar to buy treats when you were a kid, what would you buy?

Hostess cupcakes with the white creamy filling.

Was dessert a special treat or a nightly ritual?

Desserts were a nightly ritual and we would eat canned fruit or jello ( we kept Kosher).

What food do you throw out? Do you eat leftovers?

I hardly throw food out. I use it. If leftovers aren’t eaten within three days, I throw them out. I absolutely love leftovers cause I don’t have to cook the next day!

What kind of cooking did your father do when you were growing up?

Steaks on the barbecue and they were the best!!! He would make coffee in a percolator every morning and it would go all over the stove top.

Linda in Ottawa

Did your family say grace before meals? What was said and by whom?

No. Although on religious holidays and shabbat we would say the prayers over the chalah, wine and candles.

Where did your family get meat from when you were a kid? If you don’t eat meat, why and what prompted that decision?

At the Kosher butcher, which was brought in from Toronto [they lived in St. Catharines, a small town near Niagara Falls]. I used to love watching the butcher cut rib eye steaks.

What did you feed your kids when they were babies or toddlers? Did you restrict your diet when you were pregnant?

Breast milk until they were about seven months old. Homemade yogurt, homemade baby food and then fish sticks and chicken nuggets as toddlers.

What was your life like as a newlywed? How did you accommodate your wife/husband’s food  preferences when you first got married?

I started cooking like my mother, which was Kosher style — liver and onions, beef flanken soup, fried hamburgers but then realized this was not healthy and tried vegetarian cooking, which did not last that long. I did not accommodate my husband’s preference for ham, pigs’  knuckles and pork roast!!!

Linda in Mexico - 2007

What was your first candy bar?

My first candy bar was Nelson’s milk chocolate bar that was the best in Canada.

Did you ever steal a pack of gum?

The corner store was missing quite a few things when I was a child…don’t tell.

Did you share food with your neighbors?

My aunt and uncle lived next door, so I am sure we borrowed lots. As an adult, I was always borrowing eggs, flour, and sugar for baking.

What did your mom make you when you were sick?

Jello with fruit cocktail and of course chicken soup.

Additional posts on “Your Life in Food” can be found here.