
With Mother's Day this weekend, I've been reflecting on my family, our heritage and the love of baking that has been a part of our family for more than five generations. Many of the Memory Lane Cuisine recipes that I use today were originally developed by my Great Grandmother, Jessie Duncan Pirie, who moved from northern Scotland to Fort Collins, Colorado in 1889. Jessie’s recipes included those she had learned from her mother in Huntly, Scotland and ones she had created while working as a cook in London. Over the past 125 years, Jessie’s recipes have been passed down by each generation, from my grandmother to my mother, my aunt, myself and, finally to my daughter.
My mother, Emma Joan Thompson Schaal, was a great baker. When she passed away she left me a small legacy with the wish that I would use this gift to “do something I would not have done otherwise.”
This marked the founding of Memory Lane Cuisine and my goal: to honor my mother and the five generations of women in our family who bake with excellence and love.
At Memory Lane Cuisines, we cherish our original recipes, the memories they bring and the history they reflect. New recipes are also being introduced. My daughter, Rebecca Abrams, created our vegan cookies and several of our newest shortbreads. My husband’s mother, Irene Abrams, is teaching us the fine art of making sugarless fruit tarts which we plan to introduce later this summer.
My mother, Emma Joan Thompson Schaal, was a great baker. When she passed away she left me a small legacy with the wish that I would use this gift to “do something I would not have done otherwise.”
This marked the founding of Memory Lane Cuisine and my goal: to honor my mother and the five generations of women in our family who bake with excellence and love.
At Memory Lane Cuisines, we cherish our original recipes, the memories they bring and the history they reflect. New recipes are also being introduced. My daughter, Rebecca Abrams, created our vegan cookies and several of our newest shortbreads. My husband’s mother, Irene Abrams, is teaching us the fine art of making sugarless fruit tarts which we plan to introduce later this summer.
Below are a few photos of the five generations of women bakers in my family.
Best wishes and a very happy Mother’s Day!
Best wishes and a very happy Mother’s Day!