Resolutions

My Grammy and I may have not talked on the phone very often, and seen each other only on holidays in recent years, but we loved each other very much. On New Years Day, I got the shocking news that she had died quite suddenly and unexpectedly. This was a woman who lived by herself, still drove, and was very healthy and active. She played bingo, was an avid bird watcher, and even shot squirrels from her porch (she lived in the middle of the woods, in a beautiful cabin that my Pop Pop had built himself).


Four generations - My Great-Grandmother and namesake Emily, my Mom, my Grammy, and me in 1982.

On top of all of this, she was also an amazing cook. Everything she made tasted absolutely delicious, even just a pizza or a ham sandwich. When we were going through her things last weekend, I noticed two big boxes full of her recipes. When I asked if I could have them, I was pleasantly surprised when I was told yes. I thought for sure I would have to fight for them.

I do like to cook but I've never been great at it. But looking through all the recipes, I felt inspired. This is how I could honor her memory and keep her spirit alive. And so I made probably the most meaningful New Years resolution I ever have - I am going to conquer one recipe each week and document it here. I hope to accompany them with stories I remember about my childhood and my Grammy. And I will of course post the recipes so you can try them yourself.

I am going to start this weekend with a peach cobbler. Wish me luck!