Thelma Parks

'a piece of heaven'

When I tell people that I spent part of my early childhood in public housing in New Jersey, it may not seem like a happy childhood to them. But for my sister, three brothers and me, it was great. There was always someone to play with, and my mother's parents and 11 siblings lived in the neighboring towns.

Money was tight, but we always had food on the table. Sometimes, when there wasn't enough money to go to the market, our meals were based on whatever was in the house, and my mother had to be very creative. Even though meals during the week were often light (meaning no seconds), on Sundays we always had an excellent dinner. There was meat, two different types of vegetables, rolls and, of course, the most exciting part of the meal...dessert.

When my mother prepared her Old Fashioned Gingerbread, the five of us couldn't wait until it came from the oven so that we could get our piece and smother it with butter. Or we would try to wait patiently while it cooled and then we'd drown the gingerbread with whipped cream and enjoy a piece of heaven.

About Vicki Anderson: Vicki grew up in New Jersey. She and her husband now reside in Mill Valley, California. Vicki works in administration for a company with offices on the East Coast, affording frequent trips back east that enable her to visit family, including her two adult children. Vicki loves eating her mother's food whenever she has the opportunity.

Story excerpted from: Our Mother's Recipes: Remembering the meals that shaped our lives by Jonathan Cutler and Lanny Udell. Click to read more about Our Mother's recipes.

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		'a piece of heaven' When I tell people that I spent part of my early childhood in public housing in New Jersey, it may not seem like a happy childhood to them. But for my sister, three brothers and me, it was great. There was always someone to play with, and my mother's parents and 11 siblings lived in the neighboring towns. Money was tight, but we always had food on the table. Sometimes, when there wasn't enough money to go to the market, our meals were based on whatever was in the house, and my mother had to be very creative. Even though meals during the week were often light (meaning no seconds), on Sundays we always had an excellent dinner. There was meat, two different types of vegetables, rolls and, of course, the most exciting part of the meal...dessert. When my mother prepared her Old Fashioned Gingerbread, the five of us couldn't wait until it came from the oven so that we could get our piece and smother it with butter. Or we would try to wait patiently while it cooled and then we'd drown the gingerbread with whipped cream and enjoy a piece of heaven. About Vicki Anderson: Vicki grew up in New Jersey. She and her husband now reside in Mill Valley, California. Vicki works in administration for a company with offices on the East Coast, affording frequent trips back east that enable her to visit family, including her two adult children. Vicki loves eating her mother's food whenever she has the opportunity. Story excerpted from: Our Mother's Recipes: Remembering the meals that shaped our lives by Jonathan Cutler and Lanny Udell. Click to read more about Our Mother's recipes. previous mother next mother contact us membership agreement


Old Fashioned Gingerbread