Eileen Goudge

Cheaper by the half-dozen

My mom always used to say that having six kids was easier than one. I think she was just saying that, but it’s certainly true nowadays. Now that we’re grown (with the wrinkles and gray hairs to show for it!) we make quick work of meal preparation at family gatherings, with so many of us pitching in. (It helps, too, that one of my nieces is a trained chef). For the Goudge family gut-buster at my sister Karen’s new dream home, it was a free-for-all with everyone in the kitchen at once. Fortunately, it’s a kitchen large enough to accommodate us all – the dream kitchen to go with the dream home and one my sister has fantasized about for years. She is terrific cook and, like me, loves to bake, so after a year plus it is already well-used. This was the first time I’d seen it, though, and for me it was a special treat, after cooking in what passes for a large kitchen in a Manhattan apartment (I could fit three of mine into one of hers). Karen and Cori made barbecued tri-tip; I made my black-bean quinoa salad and roasted sweet-potato and apples; sis-in-law Doretta made her famous garlic mashed potatoes and a salad. For dessert there was lemon chiffon pie made from Meyer lemons off Karen’s tree, strawberry-mascarpone tart, and ollaliberry pie. A true feast!

I forgot to take pictures, I was so busy cooking, but my brother snapped a photo of me with two of my sisters, Karen and Patty. And one of all of us. In the years since we grew up and had families of our own, our half-dozen has sprouted into a baker’s dozen, with 13 nieces and nephews and now two great-nieces. My measuring cup runneth over.

Pages: Prev 1 ... 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 ... 52 Next - 52 entries

Read or make comments for this article

Post a new comment to this article

Nickname Your nickname: Empty field not allowed

Website or Email An URL or Email Address to contact you.

Verification Code Please write the numbers you see in the image

Comments are held for approval by the Admin

Pages: 1 - 0 comments

Eileen's Latest Articles

Love among the vines

There is nothing more romantic than a combination of great food, great wine, starry nights and sunshiny days. Which is exactly what these two weeks in Napa Valley have been for me. A rekin...

August 30, 2010 | Read the story +

Paradise Found

Having decided some time ago that staying at hotels does not parse with my lifestyle – I like being in a home, with a kitchen, and the privacy of not having chambermaids constantly knocking at t...

August 26, 2010 | Read the story +

ONE LAST DANCE - NOW IN EBOOK

ONE LAST DANCE I feel like as excited as if I’m taking a turn on the dance floor myself. I’m proud to announce that my first e-book is now available for download on my site ...

August 06, 2010 | Read the story +

Time and space

Time is always in short supply, something I’ve grown more conscious of as I grow older. Lately, I’ve become stingy about squandering it on activities, and yes certain people, that cu...

August 02, 2010 | Read the story +

Look at all the boats

According to my mom, the first complete sentence I ever uttered, as a child, was as we were passing a harbor, and I said, “Look at all the boats!” So it was only fitting that I shoul...

July 30, 2010 | Read the story +

Latest Comments

valerie (Guest) said:


	"I aboslutely love your books!!! i have not read one yet I did not like!" on Everything but ....

Susan (Guest) said:


	"I feel the very same way. The three of us have never argued over who got what when my father d(...)" on The Little Red ....

Petula (Guest) said:


	"Fabulous post. I often think that "adopted" family members understand the meaning of unconditio(...)" on Families are li....

Redcurlz (Guest) said:


	"Just happened to pick up The Diary and you now have another fan for life! I was amazed with th(...)" on My brother Jim.