For the Honor of House Driks

According to their religion, my kids became adults at their B’nai Mitzvah. But to truly be seen as an adult around here, a child must make a meal. Darling Youngest has been gleefully diving into baking as well as cooking during the pandemic. The Darling Eldest however has managed to shirk off anything more involved than boxed mac n’ cheese—at least until now.

The last week has seen some pretty rough times for a bunch of my friends. Their stories are not mine to tell, but when the going gets tough, the Drikses get cooking. Darling Eldest was feeling particularly frustrated by his inability to help, so my husband suggested that he cook a meal for a family. Not just any meal, but the legendary Driks meatloaf, which has been passed down on my husband’s side for a couple of generations and is one of the most anticipated meals by several families when we vacation together.

In some ways, this was a big treat for my husband. As much as he loves to cook, he loves it even more when someone is in the kitchen cooking with him. And getting to teach one of his offspring a meal that has a place in family lore is a double bonus.

I think Darling Eldest might have been a wee bit intimidated by both the manic gleam in my husband's eye and taking on such a well-loved family meal. But after getting some grumbling out of the way, he showed up in the kitchen, ready to learn. 


As with creating the perfect cast, to make the perfect meatloaf, you've got to get loose.
(Fun fact, Darling Eldest's name was partially inspired by this movie.)
To (only) his shock, it came out quite well. He was so impressed with himself that he made a second meatloaf the very next day, this one to keep for ourselves as we celebrated his second by-line. I don’t think he’s in a hurry to tackle the equally as legendary Driks challah bread any time soon. But in this time of Covid when things to celebrate are far and few between, at least my Darling Eldest now knows he can put together some tasty comfort food both for himself and anyone who could use a bit of comforting.

Song Choice: What else, but Eye to Eye from the Goofy Movie

This blog post was created as a response to the Weekly Scribblings prompt given at Poets and Storytellers United, Writing About Food.

50 comments:

  1. Great story, well told. It must be nice for all concerned that he now has this new skill. Also, that's an impressive piece of journalism!

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    1. It is rather nice! LOL, he's looking forward to learning a few more things before the summer is through - both in terms of cooking and journalism!

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  2. A journalist who makes awesome meatloaf? SCORE!

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  3. I absolutely love, love this, Rommy!💝 There is nothing more satisfying than to have your offspring learn and practice something that warms your heart. Meatloaf sounds delicious! Thank you so much for writing to the prompt!💝

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    1. He did such a good job with it. LOL, a little too good because we devoured that thing quickly.

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  4. I’m all for children learning to find their way around a kitchen and cooking meals for the family – baking is a bonus, Rommy! Cooking for others who are going through a bad time is a wonderful thing to do, especially when it’s a shared task.

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    1. He was pretty happy knowing it was something he could throw together to help friends out in the future too.

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  5. For all its inconveniences (to put it mildly) the pandemic has occasioned some happy family times that might not otherwise have happened. This was a delightful peek at special moments in your family!

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    1. There have been some really great moments at home this spring and summer. I'm very thankful for them.

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  6. A lot of good cooks will emerge from this pandemic
    Happy Wednesday Rommy

    much love...

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  7. When the going gets tough! I love this.

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  8. How important it is for the kids to be enthuiastic with preparing food rather than just consuming it. This is a beautiful snippet of the Driks family life.

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    1. LOL, both kids are rather enthusiastic consumers too, but it's nice to have some help prepping stuff.

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  9. There is no greater meatloaf than that made from the Driks Family Recipe. It's one of the highlights of our vacations together.
    Someday, I'll pass along the family Chowdah (yes, that's the correct spelling) recipe to my two.

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  10. This was good reading, I'm glad your husband liked to cook, i am sure his neals are great. I prepare my share here too. Hot dogs are my special but if it's in my old 50's Betty Crocker Cookbok then I can make it. Growing up we had "the kitchen table" and supper, I still use those names even though now it's been moved to "the breakfast room."
    I have som Jewish blood, 1/32 I believe. I can touch my nose with my tongue and Mom turned down some European reparation money.
    ..

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    1. My son feels a lot more confident when there's a written out recipe to turn to as well. Fortunately, a lot of my husband's family favorites, including the challah, have been written down and collected.

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  11. Learning the ins and outs of comfort food is...well...comforting!

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    1. And there's something comforting knowing you can fend for yourself and show a little care to others too.

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  12. I enjoyed reading this. Reminds me of some of my family's "classic" recipes, too.

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  13. Sweet story, although I am with Darling Eldest's original thought of boxed mac and cheese because I dislike cooking. But hey, he now can make a U-Tube of his meatloaf and make $$$, yes?

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    1. LOL, he'd need to learn to be more comfortable in front of a camera. It looks like written journalism is more his speed. :D

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  14. Oh nice! It's beautiful to be able to cook a meal for those you love.. small joys of life! But Mac and cheese out of a box is beautiful too :)

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    1. LOL, I suspect Darling Eldest will never give up his affection for box mac n' cheese either. :D

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  15. Cooking for family is beautiful when it is not a continual chore. This was a comforting read.

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    1. Hubby's love language is cooking in the kitchen together so it's not too bad of a chore. Clean-up on the other hand... :D

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  16. Charming story Rommy - underlined how cooking can bond and bring us together.

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    1. A lot of great memories are made in our kitchen, it's true.

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  17. Replies
    1. The hubby's gifts of food were much appreciated when we were first dating.

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  18. Bravo to the new meatloaf maker
    Happy Sunday Rommy

    Much💖love

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  19. Kitchens can be such a wonderful gateway to family and comfort; this made me smile and made me grateful for the cook in our family (definitely my husband, not me. I am the mac-n-cheese or everything-in-a-skillet cook).

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    1. My husband is the head chef too, especially since the pandemic started. I'm happy enough chopping things up for him to use.

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  20. Hi Rommy! thanks for sharing the goings-on within your household during this lockdown. I have been doing the same for therapy reasons. And it sure has helped! Cheers to us all!

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    1. Some things are called comfort food for good reason. Glad to know that similar things are helping you.

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  21. I keep on giggling because I can totally imagine both the gleam in your husband's eye and the panic of your Darling Eldest. After the giggles came a rather loud--WoooHooo! (it scared my Piano Man)--at the note about your Darling Eldest's second article. How fantastic is that!?

    I'm a so sorry that things are rough for so many of your friends. Sigh. I am also happy that Darling Youngest is baking, Darling Eldest is writing, the husband is cooking, and you get to find joy in watching them get through the times and doing it well.

    Life is good--even when things are bad--when we get a breath of fresh air (and a bite of meatloaf).

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    1. It's sweet moments like these that make it easier to get through some of the rougher stuff. And I'm very grateful for them.

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  22. It's the little/simple things that are most important. An ambitious savvy cook...you're blessed!

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  23. can't go wrong with meatloaf : )

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    1. It's always a crowd pleaser around here :D

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  24. Now I miss my mom's meatloaf with baked potatoes. I'm glad this skill is passed on to the next generation. I never learned how to make mom's egg noodles and I miss them as well.

    I wish your family well on the next meal adventure.

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    1. Darling Eldest has expressed interest in testing of Grandma's noodles and cabbage recipe next.

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  25. What a blessing to pass down traditions and lessons in giving.

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    1. We are really blessed to be in the position to do both.

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