In honor of the launch of my friend Carole Murko’s Heirloom Meals PBS TV special, “Thanksgiving Meals,” I was inspired to share my thoughts on the importance of family and food.  Heirloom Meals’ mission is to “journey into the kitchens and gardens of anyone who has a treasured family recipe(s) with the goal of exploring our diverse culinary history and preserving our ancestors’ tried and true recipes and dining traditions.”

We’re all aware that daily life in America is very different than it used to be.  Family time around the dinner table was standard for many families who could afford it. Their schedule regularly included “dinner at 6:00” after school or work.  They shared activities of the day with parents and siblings, talking politics, laughing and arguing — and this was often accompanied by fresh aromas from the kitchen — maybe prepared with ingredients from the family garden.  The relationship building that occurred over food was an important ingredient in living a healthy lifestyle (depending on the level of shared neuroses, of course).  Fellowship with family and friends feeds the soul just as delicious, real food feeds our bodies.

As we pass beyond the winter holiday season into fewer scheduled family gatherings, I encourage you to be deliberate about spending mealtime with family and friends.  And, please send us your recipes. We’ll post them.