Kay Johnson-Tomblin: Author/Blogger
Some would call me a foodie…I prefer to think that I am a nurturer. I was raised by parents who felt that the family home should be an oasis from the pressures of the world. When I left their home to create my own, I carried their ideals forward. The center of my home has always been the kitchen/dining area. That is indeed where the heart of my home is located. As a mother I felt it was important to prepare my family’s meals just like my mother did. Take-out was a once-in-a-while kind of thing, a treat. Home cooking was what my children were going to grow up eating. My children would have good table manners and know how to set a proper table. They would know what family time was all about.
Then I got busy. My career was in full-swing, climbing the corporate ladder. My kids were grown and take-out and restaurant dining became a steady diet, always eating on the run. That lifestyle took a toll on my health and I realize now that my diet had the biggest negative impact. I had gotten away from my teachings, not nurturing my body and soul. I’ve come full circle and now am preparing my own food once again, and sharing my table with loved ones.
Planning and preparing meals feeds my soul, a place in my heart that only cooking can fill. I find cooking to be a form of therapy…a time to reflect and refocus on what in life is really important. Blogging about recipes just seems like a natural way to carry my family traditions and experiences forward and a fitting way to honor those who gave me so much.
I invite you to meet the people in my life who have played a role in making me the person I am today. The people who inspire(d) me and filled my life with great food and love....my family.
Virginia Bowers-Johnson, my mother (1924-2006)
My mother taught me everything she knew about cooking and creating a home, entertaining and carrying traditions forward. She was raised in a family that gathered around the table for family mealtime. Virginia lived to feed people, both at work and at home. She felt that you should take a break from whatever was going on in your life, sit down at the table and have a home-cooked meal. We very seldom had take-out in our home. Virginia could throw a party together so fast and effortlessly it shocked people. Whether is was an intimate dinner party for six or an open house for fifty, it didn’t matter to her…you just needed more food, it was never too much work. She taught her three daughters how to dress appropriately for any occasion, how to behave in any situation, how to make a house a home, and how to love. I am a very lucky woman to have had such a wonderful role model and mother! The world was a brighter place to be when Virginia was around, now it gets brighter with every memory of her.
Zorie Johnson, my father (1919-1977)
Most people probably never knew that my dad could cook. Married to Virginia, there was usually no need for him to ever touch the stove. For a few years when I was a child my mother worked the afternoon shift so the task of getting dinner on the table fell to my dad. That’s when he taught me to cook. He was an excellent teacher, explaining how to prepare the food and kitchen safety. We had a great time getting dinner on the table. As my skills grew he would steer me towards the things he liked and mother never made for him. Those are still some of my favorite dishes to make. My dad challenged me to try new things, to have the confidence to never question if I could do something, but to know that I could! Spending time with my dad meant I was going to learn something, something practical and useful for life. I remember every lesson he ever taught me, and I know I would not be the person I am without him as my daddy. We lost him way too early, but he will live forever in my heart.
Lucy Griffin-Bowers, my grandmother (1899-1986)
My grandmother loved to tell me stories about life when she was younger. She was a bride in the 1920’s and raised a family of five children during the Great Depression in a coal mining town in West Virginia. Her stories were about her gardens, canning, using a wood-burning stove to cook on, and so much more. She is the reason I shop at farm stands and can foods, why I prefer foods from scratch to processed and prepackaged. She inspired me as a child and the memory of her continues to inspire me to this day! Every child should have a village elder like my grandmother, she taught her grandchildren something new every time she saw them.
Bernie Thrush-Bowers, my aunt (1929-1985)
Aunt Bernie’s specialty was desserts. I loved watching her in the kitchen creating delicious sweet things. She worked effortlessly in the kitchen with joy in her heart. Family mealtime at her table was full of stories and laughter. Love and joy went into every thing Aunt Bernie did, and you were blessed to have her in your life. When she loved, she loved deeply and forever, unconditionally. She remembered everything, your birthday, your favorite color, your first words and your aspirations. Aunt Bernie was more than an aunt to me; she was my favorite village elder.
Doris Bowers-Swiger, my aunt
My mother and her sister; sister’s of the heart although distance separated them their entire adult life. The two sisters connected by sharing recipes over the years. All phone conversations ended up discussing something about food/cooking/recipes. The kitchen table was always the center of Aunt Doris’ home, I don’t remember sitting any place else when visiting her.
Lillian Bowers-Leasburg, my aunt
My mother’s sister and soul-mate when it came to creating a warm and welcoming home. I always felt like I got a hug from Aunt Lillian’s home. Ironically enough, that’s what my friends and family, tell me about my home. Aunt Lillian is a true southern woman, full of grace and hospitality!
Kay Bowers-Wheeler, my aunt (1939-2008)
Aunt Kay was my mother’s youngest sibling who held a very special place in mother’s heart. You always gathered around the table in Aunt Kay’s kitchen. She was a very good cook, who created well-balanced meals and an added dose of love. Being her namesake is an honor for me, a badge I wear proudly.
Mary Ann Johnson-Jacobson, my sister
Mary Ann cooks to the beat of a different drum. Her style is all her own, and it works for her. Mother taught her the basics and then Mary Ann took off from there. Yet I can see mother’s influence in every step Mary Ann takes when preparing the food and setting the table, their movements are that similar. Working in the kitchen with Mary Ann is always fun, full of laughter, and lots of love.
Margaret Johnson-Hendrix, my sister
Margaret is an awesome cook. She is very methodical and structured, she follows a recipe to the last detail, just like our grandmother did. I have always admired her sense of adventure in trying new recipes and techniques. With Margaret, the attention is in the details…from food selection, preparation, all the way to the table setting. Dining at Margaret’s table is a cornucopia for all of your senses!
Scott Tomblin, my son
When my son was a teenager I started teaching him to cook. He didn’t see a need to learn, but I explained to him that since he liked to eat, he needed to know how to cook. Having no real argument to that logic, he cooked dinner for the family whenever asked. As a working mom, I often had the kids start dinner when I left work, and I’d help finish it up when I got home. Scott was very willing to be the one to do that task. As an adult he would much rather hang out and watch mom make the meal, even though he is totally capable of doing it himself. Scott always has been, and always will be, my #1 Taste Tester! When dinner’s on the table, you can count on Scott being there. He thrives on family mealtime and connects best with people over a meal, just like his ancestors.
Pam Tomblin Schultheis, my daughter
When I had a daughter I had a dream that we would spend time in the kitchen together, just like I did with my mother. Pam had a completely different dream. Her dream was to stay as far away from the kitchen as she could. Once in a while she’d wander in the room and make something, but she preferred to work solo. When she got married, I made her a cookbook. Again I had a dream; she would discover the joy of cooking. Again, not my daughter’s dream. She didn’t have any interest in learning the family recipes; she figured I would always be the one to make them. Then a couple years ago, Pam started showing an interest in actually expanding her repertoire and has become more adventurous with her selection of recipes. I’m proud to say that she is an awesome mother and a good cook who is growing into her heritage. My dream is coming true, my daughter and I are spending time together in the kitchen creating fabulous dishes and treats! It is my opinion that my grandchildren should get all the credit for their mother’s transformation!
