Dona Sherburne and her late husband Keith Sherburne, soon after they moved to Germany as newlyweds. Courtesy of Dona Sherburne I was a 22-year-old bride getting ready to go to Germany to start my new life in two weeks. But I couldn’t cook! I sat my Mom down for a crash course.
“How do you make that fish stew I love?” If you’d like to contribute to Home Plates, send a recipe and a story telling us how you came to cook it, who you cook it for and why it’s found a place in your life to pgrodinsky@pressherald.com . Also, please tell us a little bit about your life as a home cook, include a photo of the dish, and yourself, possibly together, and let us know the source of the recipe.
It went like this: Mom told me to start with a large pot, like the big enamel one she always used. My face said ????, so she pointed it out to me. Coat the bottom of the pan with olive oil, then add some sliced onions when the oil gets hot.
“How many onions?” I asked. Mom said two or three medium – “just judge.” When they’re soft, add 2 or 3 garlic cloves, depending on their size.
I didn’t ask. Be sure not to let the garlic burn or I’d have to start over, she warned me. Now, add a large can of tomatoes.
Hurrah! I knew what that was! Also, a few good scoops of tomato paste and some good red wine. I asked how much red wine and my Mom, ever explicit, suggested about half of her favorite juice glass. Got it! I was told to let everything cook together, over low heat, without a lid .