How Family Heirloom Recipes Brighten the Holiday Season

By Catherine Tsounis

“Recipes are not just instructions: they are memories etched in flavor,”- Julia Child, American Chef and Author¹

During the holiday season, every family remembers a recipe associated with a personal story. My late Aunt Lucy. Tsounis Wood sent me her special cabbage recipe before she passed away at 98. Aunt Lucy’s family were immigrants from the former Ottoman Turkish empire: Lemnos and the lost Greek island of Mosconisi in Asia Minor opposite the island of Lesvos.

She was born and raised in Aliquippa Pennsylvania, a steel mill Town that ha a Greek Orthodox church of the Kimisis of Theotokou. She became a schoolteacher, immigrated to California. She devoted her life to her Christian faith, teaching Christian beliefs at her local church. Our family is fourth and fifth generation Americans of Greek roots.

Miss Lucy, as she was known, taught Christian faith through an amazing custom! Tea Time. “The most treasured heirlooms are the sweet memories we passed down to our family and friends,” said Aunt Lucy. She loved her tea parties! She would set her fine China, crystal glasses, and silver on the table to perfection! Aunt Lucy would always serve “her” beloved Chinese cabbage salad. As people partied, she shared her Christian beliefs.

This is her Chinese Cabbage Recipe:

1 medium cabbage (finely cut). I crush each handful as I place it in a large bowl. (It brings out the cabbage’s flavor). Yum!

4 stems of celery (deveined and cut into¼ inch or bite size pieces).

2 bunches fresh green onions (with scissors cut just the green part into bite size pieces).

Add…

2 pkg. Top Romon chicken flavored dry noodles (before opening each pkg. fully crush it with a mallet or? And when opened, also crush in hands).

2 4oz bags or 1 8oz bag of silver, raw almonds – NOT sliced. (Trader Joe’s if possible). Mix them all gently.

DRESSING

Add into a 16oz measuring cup…

1 cup virgin olive oil

½ cup apple cider vinegar (with “mother”). I use Bragg’s brand. 2 foil envelopes of the soup mix from the 2 Ramon pkg.

Garlic (minced) to taste. I do not skimp!

½ tsp Lawry’s seasoning

Dash or two of cayenne pepper! (For that WOW taste)!!!

MIX

Mix all ingredients well… until all seasonings are thoroughly dissolved.

If salad stands for a while before using, mix it again because the dressing settles to the bottom of the bowl.

BON APPETITE I

References

1.     https://snugfam.com/top-family-recipe-quotes-timeless-wisdom-and-meanings/

2.    https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cabbage_salad_2.jpg