German Potato Salad and Grandma

Yesterday was the 4th of July, and naturally, we grilled out. I also made my grandmother's German Potato Salad. John is pretty sure this is required summer holiday food.

But I almost didn't make it. The recipe wasn't where I normally keep it, and I had a moment of panic that I had lost it. Most of my favorite recipes had found their way onto Forkinit.com (a recipe sharing website that my brother Christian set up), but for some reason, that one hadn't.

Thankfully, I found the recipe, the dish was made, and all was well. I also made sure that the recipe made it on to Forkinit today. Just to avoid any more panic. =)

The incident got me thinking though. Mostly about Grandma, and food. So many of my memories about my maternal grandmother revolve around food. I remember she and my mother canning and freezing food almost every summer of my young childhood. We did it both at her house, and at ours. I loved to help freeze corn and beans, and can tomatoes, peaches, and pears. Of course, most years my delight revolved around gnawing on the corn cobs after most of the corn had been cut off, and less around snapping the ends off green beans, but as I got older I felt honored to be able to cut the corn off the cob myself, and help make up the pickles in her large crocks.

Grandma made and canned jam too, and sauerkraut. Our pantry was always stuffed with home canned goods, and the extra freezer had a never-ending supply. I don't think I knew you could get frozen vegetables from the store until I was at least 10 or 11.

Not all the food memories are pleasant for me. To this day, I don't like oatmeal. I ate it at Grandma's though. For the longest time, I thought "Eat such things as are set before you" was one of the ten commandments.  Recently, John asked for brats and sauerkraut for dinner. The smell brought back memories. I can't remember what Grandma served with her kraut, but I didn't like it then either.

But I always liked, and still do, her German potato salad. Grandma was only a few generations removed from the old country, and German food was a proud part of her heritage. I'm sure if I quizzed her children, they could each name a dish of their mother's that they remember and love. But I'm pretty sure they can all remember this one. When Grandma turned 75, they threw her a surprise birthday party, and tricked her into making potato salad for it. My aunt told her it was for a church potluck, and she "just couldn't make as well as you Mom."

Grandma did a lot of things well. She raised 10 kids, and worked as a nurse after they were grown. She was a strong woman with very definite opinions, and a very strong faith. I was only 14 when she died, so I'm sure there are many things I don't remember, and many memories I can't do justice to. But I do like to remember her. Every time I make her potato salad, there's a little bit of Grandma that makes me smile.