Food for Your Body, Mind, and Spirit

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Recipes with Love
From Special Mothers around the World.

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In your hand, you hold a recipe card, a tiny slip of paper, or a scribbled kitchen note from your mother or grandma. At that moment, that little recipe brings back into your life her passion, love, and wisdom that she shared with you. You feel connected to her as she was for you throughout life’s journey. It helps you to experience who you are and appreciate your family’s culture. That recipe is like magic. It has the power to bring back memories of the time you spent together, comforting feelings of belonging, warmth. and her spirit. Why is her recipe so delicious? The secret ingredient is her Love.

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UMMA
The Book.

A Korean Mom’s Kitchen Wisdom.

Sarah Ahn’s viral food videos of her and her mom have captivated millions of viewers with their behind-the-scenes look at Korean cooking and multigenerational home life. This collaboration is now a must-have cookbook blending the emotional intimacy of Crying in H Mart with practical culinary advice from Nam Soon’s lifetime of kitchen experience. The recipes are framed by mother-daughter conversations that are funny, profound, and universally relatable—plus all the food is backed by the recipe-testing power of America’s Test Kitchen.

SOME SPECIAL MOTHERS AROUND THE WORLD

Meet a Special Umma (Mother) Nam Soon Ahn
She immigrated to America in the 1990s with the hope of providing a better life for herself and her family. After finding her footing through various challenges and successes, she purchased a restaurant specializing in Asian noodle dishes in 2008 and operated it successfully for nearly a decade. She is a former restaurateur, whose culinary wisdom and recipes form the foundation of the book Umma. Together, with her daughter Sarah Ahn, they honor their heritage with love, flavor, and authenticity.

The UMMA book is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other fine bookstores across the US.

Sarah Ahn Interview

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Following are Two Recipes from UMMA – the book.

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Angel Hair Mixed Cold Noodles
 (Angel Hair Bibimguksu)

About the Recipe: This dish relies on gochujang to create a sauce that delivers the perfect balance of spice, tang, and sweetness. We opt for angel hair pasta instead of Somy eon (thin wheat noodles) for a different flavor and texture, as well as added convenience. Umma suggested using a mandolin to slice the cabbage about 1/8 inch thick.

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Angel Hair Mixed Cold Noodles

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Kimchi Grilled Cheese

About the Recipe: Inspired by the family tradition of combining fusion comfort food and Korean flavors, Umma and I endeavored to create a kimchi grilled cheese sandwich that celebrates this pairing. This recipe brings together the rich and gooey goodness of melted Muenster cheese with the spicy, tangy flavors of kimchi, sandwiching them between buttery griddled sourdough bread slices. For even more depth, we include a layer of chopped green onion, along with a blend of seasonings. Umma likes a sturdy bread, such as sourdough to prevent the sandwich from becoming soggy.

SOME SPECIAL MOTHERS AROUND THE WORLD

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Kedgeree – Scottish Recipe
Popular breakfast or lunch dish with curried rice, smoked haddock, and hard-boiled eggs.

About the Recipe: The recipe Kedgeree, one of Mary Bunty Lane’s favorites, combines warm sweet spices into fluffy aromatic rice and adds chunks of smoky rich flavored fish. Served with boiled egg quarters and juicy lemons, it is a one pot wonder. The dish can be served warm or cold for breakfast or brunch.

Meet a Special Mother – Mary Russell Bunty Lane clan Fraser

My mother (Mary Russell Fraser) was Scottish and my father (John Henry Lane) English.  They met during WW II in Scotland when he was stationed there. My mother’s family disowned her for marrying a “Sassenach” (a foreigner and even worse, an Englishman!)  However, when I was born, all was forgiven as I was so cute. My mother made many Scottish meals with one of her favorites being Kedgeree, which is a dish enjoyed by the Scots but brought back to Scotland by the missionaries who went to India. (See More in Link below)

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Kedgeree – Scottish Recipe

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Beet Salad
A Russian recipe using fresh beets.

About the Recipe: Root vegetables like beets turn into delicious sweet and savory salad combinations. This little salad is a classic Russian salad that is wonderful served cold and makes a refreshing side dish. It’s simple to prepare, using just a few ingredients. We lined the salad bowl with the leafy, bright green beet leaves and served some crisp crunchy crackers on the side. It is so versatile and healthy that it’s the perfect partner for any supper, winter or summer.

Meet a Special Mother – Zoya

My mother was always full of life, hope and optimism. She was a wonderful person, beloved by her family, friends and students alike. She was a professor of Central Asian and Persian literature and a translator. She lived in Moscow, later in life she moved to West Lafayette to be close to me and my family. My mom preferred simple fresh food: a soft-boiled egg, a good apple, a small steak, and some fresh bread. She also loved to set up a beautiful table for festive as well as everyday meals. Conversations at the dining table, after we cooked together, set up the table, and ate with our family are among my warmest recollections about my mom. (See More in Link below)

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Beet Salad

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Utan Visaya
(Vegetable Soup)

About the Recipe: Growing up on a vegetable farm means you perfect the vegetable soup. Utan Visaya (vegetable soup) is my mom’s most cooked recipe. My Mom would serve it with rice or fried fish bought fresh from the market. We would add new vegetables here and there to keep things new. Just remember to use a big taro straight from the hillside! Thats what makes this a Jovencia classic

Cook’s Note: Our lemongrass was very dry and didn’t soften. If this is a problem for you, I would suggest grating or fine chopping it. This soup is so delicious and very healthy too.

Meet a Special Mother – Jovencia Belen

As a little girl, I would help her by carrying a basket full of eggplant, okra, tomatoes, long green beans and our special taro. Taro grew the best on our hillside farm in the Philippines, and it was nice seeing the smiles of customers finally holding our giant taro. Taro can get pretty big! We didn’t have chairs so we would stand or sit next to our baskets and sell every single vegetable which would usually take 5 hours. The taste and simplicity bring me back to my childhood. It was a time when it was just my mom, her little girl, and a basket of taro. (See More in Link below)

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Utan Visaya  – (Vegetable Soup)

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Lubia Polo
(Green bean rice)
This recipe is an Iranian dinner dish.

About the Recipe: This dish is a healthy, one-pot meal that is delicious to serve for a weeknight dinner or party. Its fluffy rice is folded into a rich tomato meat sauce, that is seasoned with turmeric, cumin, and cinnamon. Green beans add a nutritious addition, and it’s served with a tomato, cucumber, and onion salad that’s dressed with lemon/olive oil. Crispy rice forms at the bottom of the pot and is called “Tah dig” and is a very popular part of the dish.

Meet a Special Mother – Guity’s mother –  Khorshid

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Guity’s mother – Khorshid, whose name means the sun in Farsi, was a very talented woman, who was admired for her beauty, elegance, and artistic skills. She produced high quality decorations and was able to play the piano and accordion by ear. She was also a skilled cook and hosted many elegant and fun dinner parties. She is remembered for all that by her family and friends.

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Lubia Polo (Green Bean Rice)

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Citrus Chili with Crisp Chips
One of Ann Holz’s winning recipes.

About the Recipe: This mild chili makes a great casserole dish for a casual supper. The tangy orange flavor enhances the peppers and large chunks of chili beef. If desired, substitute some plant-based beef for softer beef texture and more vegetables. This was a winning recipe for Ann Holz, where she represented New Jersey in the National Beef Contest in 1991.

Meet a Special Mother – Ann Holz

She was the first one to raise her hand and volunteer to make 100 handmade gifts to share with others. Kind, caring, and always making room at her house for anyone needing a place to stay. She had two children, one girl and one boy, and a loving husband. In her senior years, she entered some of her recipes in national contests and was so thrilled to win several prizes. Ann’s roots were Lithuanian so many of her recipes reflected Eastern European main courses and desserts.

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Citrus Chili with Crisp Chips

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Mom’s Strawberry Marlow
One of the best desserts is one of the easiest to make.

About the Recipe: Strawberry Marlow can be prepared in just a few minutes. The combination of melted sweet marshmallows swirled with crushed fresh strawberries and whipped cream, create a fluffy berry cream. A visit to the freezer magically turns it into a delicious strawberry cream frozen dessert. It’s a refreshing treat for potlucks or family gatherings. Yes, it only uses 4 ingredients.

Meet a Special Mother – Lois Kneale Griffin 

My mother, Lois Kneale Griffin, lived to be 101 years old. She was the youngest in a family of 5 girls and had 5 daughters herself. She taught us the basics of cooking at a very young age. My mother lived in northeastern Ohio her entire life and loved all the seasons. She loved gardening, birds, and the outdoors, but more than anything she loved her family. She would freeze or can many of the fruits and vegetables from our garden. Since my father was a “meat and potato” man, my mother cooked very basic meals. Her rolls and desserts were her most anticipated foods at family gatherings.

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Mom’s Strawberry Marlow

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Fried Bread
Ella’s recipe from Ireland

About the Recipe: Fried bread is a typical Irish specialty and uses local roll made dough. Cooking it in oil, and with this recipe a little yeast powder, makes it puff up with a doughnut-like appearance. The Irish usually sprinkle it with powdered sugar or serve them with jam.
Our Fried Breads had very crisp crusts and were filled with tender soft bubbles of dough inside.

Cook’s Note: We halved the recipe and made 24 fried breads. Since this was an old family recipe, we added some of the information such as providing cooking temperature and times. The Fried Breads should be about 2×4 inches, however, some of our dough decided to stretch into other shapes. Since the cooked breads have a hole in the center, we thought a nice serving suggestion might be some jelly, cream cheese, or butter spread.

Meet a Special Mother – Ella Veronica Casey Healy

Ella married Joseph Healy and moved to Harrisburg, PA, where she had four children.  Her grandchildren, and then her sons-in-law and daughter-in-law, called her Moner, a sweet name for a very sweet person.
The name Moner came about because the first grandchild was a baby, living in her house during WW II while his father was flying bombers in Asia.  The grandchild heard Ella’s children call her mother and ended up calling her Moner. As she was making the dough for fried bread one night, her son held a measuring cup under her hand as she put in each ingredient, so now the family has her fried bread recipe.  It is from the northern part of Ireland and is a smaller version of the French beignets in New Orleans.

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Fried Bread

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Apple Orchard Chocolate Chippers
One of Shirley DeSantis’s winning recipes.

 

About the Recipe: Shirley loved to use apple butter in her recipes and for this one, she added it to a chocolate chip cookie recipe. The apple-sweet, little cookies are super easy to make. They are crispy on the outside but have a tender cake-like texture inside. It was included in the book, Search for the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie.

Meet a Special Mother – Shirley DeSantis

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Shirley was a home cook, who became a champion recipe contest winner, creating some of the best recipes. She was also everyone’s best friend, lending a helping hand and giving them encouragement to create their own recipes. She had 3 children, one daughter and two sons and an enthusiastic husband, Alex, who teamed with her in several contests. She was a legend in the culinary contesting world.

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Apple Orchard Chocolate Chippers

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Polish Poppy Seed Cake
Eleanor’s recipe for delicious poppy seed cake.

About the Recipe: This is a classic dessert cake that has been enjoyed in her family for about 50 years. The poppyseeds are slightly nutty with a light refreshing orange crumb. It’s a moist, full-of-flavor cake that is perfect to serve for a special holiday or family party.

Meet a Special Mother – Eleanor Brasky

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Eleanor and her husband, Edmund “Babe,” owned a neighborhood grocery store and had four sons. She was best known for her recipe St. Pope John Paul II Kolacky. that was requested by the Pope. She was a fantastic baker and loved to bake cakes. She provided food to the Five Holy Martyrs parish as both a volunteer member of the parish hospitality committee and a special occasion cook over the years.

pdf for Copy of Recipe –  Polish Poppy Seed Cake

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Sugar Cookies
Have fun rolling and decorating these cookies for all your parties.

About the Recipe: Decorating cookies is a fun experience for the whole family. Each person gets to select their own shapes, colors, sprinkles, and frosting. This recipe is a memory maker for her family. They remember making the cookies every Christmas, and of course, sampling them as well. Everyone put their little bit of passion, creativity, and love into those baked cookies.

Meet a Special Mother – Mary Joan Koors

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Mary Joan Koors raised a family of six children in Tipton, Indiana. She was a stay-at-home mother, and an unconventional farmer’s wife who loved opera and classical music. Most of the food that we ate came from the family garden and raised livestock. Thanks to summer canning, we consumed those vegetables year-round. Baking was always a special treat, especially when cookies were involved. One or more of her children would always “help” by running the mixer and sampling the batter to make sure it tasted just right. She only made these particular cookies during the Christmas season. For that reason, her children still associate the smells and taste of those cookies with joyful times and warm memories”.

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Sugar Cookies

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Whoopie Pies
One taste and you will yell “Whoopie”.

About the Recipe: A whoopie pie is not technically a pie. It’s two soft chocolate cake halves that are sandwiched together with a creamy filling. The cake and cream dessert originated in Pennsylvania and New England. Janice’s sweet treat cake sandwich is filled with fluffy peanut butter cream that oozes out and is finger licking delightful. With its rich popular flavor blend of peanut butter and chocolate, it’s no surprise that everyone loves them.

Meet a Special Mother – Janice Myers 

Every summer, my mother, sister, and I would make a double-batch of whoopie pies for family events. I remember having the cookies spread all over the kitchen and dining room until we got them all filled. I can still hear my mom saying, “What a mess? Why did we do this?” Well, we did it because everyone loved them!

Diane, Janice’s daughter, revealed that now many years later, my husband requests Whoopie Pies instead of cake for his birthday. I have developed a recipe that does not require any hydrogenated fat, yet the taste is authentic, “Whoopie!”

pdf for Copy of Recipe – Whoopie Pies

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Carmel Delights
Bite-size chocolate covered caramel pecan treats are festive party treats.

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About the Recipe: Caramel Delights are bite-sized treats that taste like little turtle candies and are so easy to make. They only use a few ingredients. Everyone loves the delicious taste of the soft caramels swirled with chunky pecans and covered with milk or dark chocolate. These candies are perfect to serve for holiday celebrations and family parties.

Meet a Special Mother – Nancy Peltier

I grew up in a small farming community in western Ohio. After I was married, we moved around some and I would pick up recipes from coworkers, neighbors, etc. in each new area. I enjoy making candies, cookies and just about anything sweet. I inherited my sweet teeth from my father. I say teeth because tooth does not cover my love of sweets. I have 3 children and 8 grandchildren and most have inherited my love of sweets.

pdf for Copy – Carmel Delights

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Links to 2025 Monthly Programs

January 2025 Program – Sweet Dreams/Sleep Expert -Dr. Beth Malow

February 2025 Program – Discover a Medical Pharmacist – Sylvia Ezra

March 2025 Program – Dining by Rail/Rail Historian – James D. Porterfield

 

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Internet Podcast

‘Tune into the Creating Calm Network podcast of Gloria Piantek- Food for Your Body, Mind, and Spirit episode airing at 3: 00 PM ET- Sunday – March 16^th “On Demand” at your convenience after the initial airing.

Log into our April 20^th Program.

• Hear from experts about various trending topics.
• Learn how to make delicious recipes.
• Listen to our monthly 3:oo PM ET on 3rd Sunday of every month for the internet podcast from your computer as well as “On Demand” for our previous podcasts.
• Share your ideas, suggestions, and recipes with us’.

Gloria Goodtaste⁺⁺

**That is the name some of my friends call me. My real name is Gloria Piantek.

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