G loves when we put sugar on a dinner dish. I'm a bean fan (to each their own, right?) E's fond of my grandma's Ribble recipe.
With the addition of traditional bread and butter, the big hairy one.. ??
Do you know what Ribbles are?
My grandma -- and then my Mom -- made them.. I thought it was something she made up -- but there may be different names for the dish in other families.
It's chicken/chicken broth with salt, pepper and onion -- get that boiling. Then -- in a seperate bowl -- mix WITH YOUR HANDS flour, eggs and salt. DON'T MIX TOO MUCH! ...Shew! That's the cardinal rule!You don't roll them like noodles.. you just drop them into the boiling broth. They're not dumplings.. there ribbles... they're different.. and yummy!
There's no written measurements although tonight I used precisley 4 cups broth, half an onion, 2 cups flour, 2 eggs, salt and pepper to taste.
With the dish comes the memories.. (Did she know that would happen?)
The canisters in my kitchen were my Grandmas and when I pick up the scoop from the flour I sometimes think my hand looks like hers -- when she picked up the scoop.
I think I remember what her voice sounded like but once-in-a-blue-moon I hear her say "Debbie Girl" and it's in my ears ..the exact sound of her voice -- along with the smell of chicken and onions..
And then I hear my Mom's advice about not fooling with them too much.
I remember Mom's soft, curly hair around her ears when she looked down at what she was doing.
My husband and daughters never met my Grandma.
I'm glad they like the Ribbles.. I'm glad E has asked how to make them.
So turns out we -- even Matt -- survived going meatless tonight.
Infact, we're all going to bed on a full stomach and I've got a heart full of sweet thoughts of my heritage..
And to think I almost put frozen fish in the oven! (Btw, Matt loves (LOVES) fish sticks!) (And we rarely have them...) (I'm more an egg sandwich kinda girl..)
