Mama and Scratch

I grew up on a farm which was always described
as out west.........(Alberta)..........
mama did all the baking
and we never saw a ''mix''
she baked all the bread for the week
at one time--usually 6 loaves and
a pan of buns and a pan of cinnamon buns
on birthdays I had a white cake
and brother Bill had a chocolate cake
and we always knew that we would
have a cake
mama did not bake cakes often
just birthdays including one for daddy
her sister- known as auntie Sis
baked one for her and we got together close to the day
birthdays were celebrated often of the sabbath
as the actual day was committed to the farm and the weather
she did make cookies - generally oatmeal with raisins but
never chocolate chips ............
and of course, all baking was done in a wood stove
she would stick her hand into the oven
and knew if the temperature was right
only certain wood was used when she baked
as some trees gave off a more steady heat
than others
and daddy always brought in the baking wood
which was kept away from the everyday cooking wood
even when mama got the electric stove
with the new house she still baked from scratch
she tried a few mixes but soon nixed that idea
claiming that they were not correct in texture ----etc
and she could bake cheaper with her own recipes
she often did make a ginger cake recipe
for a fine sabbath desert --
I wish I had more of her recipes but
they stayed in her head rather than on paper
she did collect recipes but generally stayed
with what she knew
I miss her special baking and I have
never tasted bread like hers......
hugs from Meme