My favorite family cooking traditions
Every year, for the two weekends after Thanksgiving, the women in my family get together to make toffee. Everyone has a job to do. When you're little you break toffee, or taste test, and as you get older you do more difficult things like spread the toffee while it is volcano-lava hot. The best part is that we're together two weekends in a row listening to music, talking and toffee-making. Our record is about 160 12oz bags.
My cooking tragedies
When I was learning to cook I made a casserole using purple cabbage. It was one of those low-calorie no fat style things. However, it looked like Barney was sick all over a pyrex dish, but my family tried to eat it, in total silence. Finally, my twin broke the silence and said, "I'm sorry, but this is horrible!" We all laughed, threw it out, and ordered pizza.