If you could pick one kitchen utensil to be what would you be?
I would be a wooden spoon. At first you may see only that it is one of the least expensive of the kitchen utensils and before you think that is because I am cheap (which I am) let me expound on why I would only hope to be a wooden spoon.
My Grandfather came over from Italy and he grew up in a large family in a New York Brownstone Building. They ran their family ice/coal company for many years together. My Great Grandmother…known as Little Grandma referring to her 4’9 frame and huge spirit raised 11 kids. She was truly an amazing cook. It was not about what she cooked but how she cooked. With love and tradition and bringing all that together she created family dinners and believe me being Italian no one in our family can be accused of not loving food!
This tradition of food and sharing and family, “familia” was passed down to my Grandpa, and then to my Mom who in turn passed it to me. Through all these generations we still talk at our huge family dinners and love, laugh and yes-even yell. Being Italian it should be no surprise that we often knock each other off our chairs because we all talk with our hands and get excited when we are together. So some of us are picking ourselves off the floor while others are laughing, crying or yelling and I would not trade any of it. My Grandfather died in 2003 and he is so missed but somehow he is there with us together at those dinners. His stories, his lessons, and yes his mother’s spoon.
In 2006 I lost my mom and it has been so painful. I know when I make my sauce I can hear her telling me how to do it, even though I know and those moments are precious to me and yes involve the wooden spoon. I would guess that wooden spoons passed down would have heard so many stories.
There is a point to be made here the utensil so coveted and used though all the years of these special dinners in our family is one and only one, the wooden spoon. The utensil that could make anything work, that could come through in a pinch and the one that you made that final taste from to make sure the sauce was just right. It was the utensil that could do anything and somehow make the food taste so good!! Why wooden? It just seemed to last and even if it were cracked or had burn marks everyone still wanted to have it to make that sauce perfect. It was loved regardless of imperfection, unconditionally and had a purpose and seemed to create such love.
I would hope I could make it work, go with the flow, create something beautiful even when you may not have all the ingredients and I would hope I can leave this world being appreciated with my cracks and burns as having been there when I was needed and shared love. I guess even though it seems like such a simple utensil it is intricate and unique.
At its use being reminded of family and the importance of a dinner together, a homemade meal, laughter, love and yes-even tears with whacks from hands being waved with expressive thought!
A full life a wooden spoon has as a utensil so simple and yes cheap but yet important. I guess I would hope to make some great dishes… survive the not so great ones and always be looked for in that moment someone is giving that last taste to the sauce with love as important. Family, love unconditional and so desired in all its imperfections and battle scars, a wooden spoon, the utensil I would hope to be.