Thank God it’s Monday, again. I always look forward to Mondays, as they’re my 52 Chances a year, in which I get to share Memories of My Mom with you. Therefore, happy Monday AND happy National Random Acts of Kindness Day.
The phrase, “living ‘the dream’”, is used to describe a state of contentment but is sometimes used sarcastically to mean the opposite. It evolved from the “American dream” term, which was first popularized during the Great Depression, by James Adams in his 1931 book, Epic of America.
Throughout the decades, “the dream” has meant different things to different people and is open to a wide variety of interpretations. In general, as Adams implied, it’s basically the goal to succeed and attain a better life.
Like “the dream”, the meaning of “success” also differs among different people and is likewise open to numerous interpretations. Many think of “success” in terms of popularity and/or celebrity status and/or monetary wealth.
Hence, rich people, celebrities and television, in general, have had and still have a great impact on the masses. In the last couple of decades, “social media” has also joined the list of massive influencers. Their far-reaching effect can often make you or break you, when it comes to small businesses.
In July 1981 and for the rest of that year, my family experienced both effects, following Mom’s FIRST appearance on “The Phil Donahue Show”. We were just a small family, operating a small business out of our home. Suddenly we were dealing with the unexpected response of a million letters, from Mom being on such a big show.
For a while, Mom had received and turned down many tempting offers from The Tonight Show, Late Night With David Lettermen, and The Rosie O’Donnell Show to name a few. She once thought she wanted the fame and fortune dream but after the overwhelming response to her first Donahue show appearance all that changed.
“I remembered what Dick Syatt, one of our radio friends, had told me about finally getting everything you ever wanted, when he said, ‘Hell is God, giving you what you thought you wanted.’” – Gloria Pitzer, Gloria Pitzer’s Cookbook – The Best of the Recipe Detective (Balboa Press; Jan. 2018, p. 300).
That world-wide exposure of Mom’s copycat cookery concept, from Donahue, was both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it undeniably opened many doors for Mom that might not have otherwise happened. On the other hand, we couldn’t go through all the mail and respond fast enough. To describe it as “swamped” was an understatement.
My parents even paid some of my girlfriends to help us for 4 to 5 hours a day, for a few months throughout our summer break and after school that following fall. While Mom and Dad were trying to catch up on all of the incoming mail, me and my sisters and friends were filling requests for the free recipes sheet and mailing out newsletters.
After dealing with “Hurricane Donahue”, Mom swore she’d never do another national TV talk show. She didn’t want to get THAT big. She had learned the hard way that she was already happy with “the dream” she was already living [but life always has a way of changing].
February also happens to be the anniversary month of Mom’s FIRST appearance on ABC’s “Home” show (in 1988). Hard to believe, it’s been 37 years since her good friend, Carol Duvall, called her and asked her to be on the new show – and, of course, Mom was immediately hesitant to say yes; but Carol was such a dear friend, she couldn’t say no.
Later, she was happy she had agreed. Mom said the most exciting part of being on the “Home” show was getting surprised by an on-stage visit from the famous Wally Amos, founder of the world’s first cookie shop, in 1975. In fact, the show went so well that she agreed to appear on it a SECOND time, in March 1991.
By the way, Mom also did the Donahue show a SECOND time on April 6, 1993 – with the stipulation that our address was not given out, during or after the show. People still found us (though not as easily as you can today). The ripple effect caused a record-breaking number of requests for that episode’s transcript.
The producers sent Mom the plaque they received for the record, along with a lovely letter of gratitude for helping to make it happen. The plaque read: “To Honor and to Thank Multimedia Entertainment and DONAHUE for the Show That Has Become the Best-Selling Transcript in Journal Graphic’s History”. Donahue should have won an Emmy for that episode.
Incidentally, February is also, among other things, National Bake for Family Fun Month. You can also bake for a family fun business, like making cookies (and/or breads, pies, cakes, etc.). The “Home” show flew Mr. Amos into Los Angeles just to meet Mom and sample her copycat version of his product, which she was preparing on that episode.
He was so impressed with her imitation of his cookies, he made her promise she’d never go into the cookie business. There was a big response to that appearance, as well, but not as much as there was from Donahue’s 1981 show. We managed to get through it little better.
During the show, Mr. Amos gave Mom a sample tin of his own assorted cookies. She treasured that tin for decades. It was definitely among her favorite things. Long after the all of cookies were consumed, the tin sat on a shelf in her kitchen, continuously bringing her many happy memories of that day. I think one of my sisters has it now.
FROM MOM’S MEMORIES…
As seen in…
My Cup Runneth Over and I Can’t Find My Mop (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; Dec. 1989, p. 106)
A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS…
THE QUESTS FOR ‘the loaves and fishes’, however, gives us a false sense of what is of value, and this is the notion that I tried to convey in my writings. In spite of the real value of the intangible things in life, I do still have a few favorite things. These are simple belongings with no redeemable value to anyone but me.
There is, for instance, a set of all five of Elsie Masterton’s cookbooks from her Blueberry Hill Farm series of the 1950s. There is a cross in a crown on a necklace chain that I fashioned for myself out of an Avon tie tack [of a] crown and a drugstore crucifix, plus some Super Glue.
I really enjoy wearing it. Wearing it reminds me to find a feeling of oneness with my Source, first thing every day. On the wall of our bedroom, there is a picture frame containing photos of each of our five children taken a few minutes after each was born.
On a shelf, in the kitchen, is a cookie tin that bears the picture of Wally Amos (Famous Amos of chocolate chip cookie fame), which he personally presented to me in February 1988, when he surprised me during the televised filming of the ‘Home’ show in Hollywood, with Rob Weller as host.
A letter from Pres. Ford, thanking me for the moral support I gave him (after his first televised press conference) and the cookbook I had sent him, is another small treasure among my ‘things’.
There is also a framed citation from WXYZ-Radio for having given an outstanding broadcast with them during the Republican Convention in Detroit. The silver ice bucket that our five children presented to Paul and me on our 25th wedding anniversary [June 1981] is but another favorite ‘thing’.
Wealth does not equal worth and so the amount of money we could have earned, but turned down instead, as a result of keeping our publication at home, is not as important as the work itself.
LAST THOUGHTS…
Thanks for visiting! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about my memories of my mom, her memories, and other related things. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at [email protected]. You can also find me on Facebook: @TheRecipeDetective.
IN CLOSING…
In honor of TODAY, being National Cabbage Day, here are Mom’s secrets for making coleslaw like the famous restaurants serve; PLUS, her imitation of a “Coleslaw Recipe, Like Port-O-Call” (Algonac, MI).
Both can be found in her last book, Gloria Pitzer’s Cookbook – The Best of the Recipe Detective (Balboa Press; Jan. 2018, p. 38). [A revised reprint of Gloria Pitzer’s Better Cookery Cookbook (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; May 1983, 3rd Edition)]. As always, I’m asking only for proper credit if you care to re-share it.
COLESLAW SECRETS – By Gloria Pitzer
As seen in Gloria Pitzer’s Cookbook – The Best of the Recipe Detective (Balboa Press; Jan. 2018, p. 38). [A revised reprint of Gloria Pitzer’s Better Cookery Cookbook (Secret RecipesTM, St. Clair, MI; May 1983, 3rd Edition)].
WHEN YOU MAKE COLESLAW the way the restaurants do, keep in mind a few simple steps that will promise you a stunning success every time! For instance, if you like the small, confetti-sized pieces of cabbage, hand-chopping is the best way to prepare it; even though, it takes a little time and patience.
Slice the cabbage into strips, roughly 1/4” thin, and the strips into smaller pieces. If you want it to be smaller but still crunchy then grate the cabbage on the largest hole of your vegetable grater.
If you want it “minced” in a hurry – cut the cabbage into marshmallow-sized chunks, fill a blender half full of water and drop the cabbage chunks in until the water is displaced within an inch of the top of the blender container.
Use an on/off agitation, on high speed, about 8-10 times to mince the cabbage. Don’t over-do it on the speed or you’ll have “mushed” instead of “minced.” You can always put the cabbage and water back into the blender to make smaller; but once you have over-minced it, you can’t fix it.
Dump the whole thing into a fine mesh sieve or colander to drain. Prepare the cabbage to your liking; then, soak it in milk (just enough to cover sufficiently) and add about ¼ cup sugar and ½ teaspoon salt for every 6 cups of cabbage (or about half a head.)
When the sugar and salt mixes with the cabbage and milk, it softens it just enough that in an hour or so you can drain the liquid off, add your favorite dressing and the texture is perfect!
P.S. Food-for-thought until next Monday…
February observes… Black History Month, National Canned Food Month, National Bird Feeding Month, National Grapefruit Month, National Hot Breakfast Month, National Library Lover’s Month, National Snack Food Month, and National Weddings Month – among other things.
This week, as the third week in February (for 2025), celebrates… Brotherhood/Sisterhood Week, among other things.
Today, as the third Monday in February (for 2025), is also… Presidents Day.
Tomorrow is… National Crab Stuffed Flounder Day and National Drink Wine Day.
Wednesday, February 19th, is… National Chocolate Mint Day.
Thursday, February 20th, is… National Love Your Pet Day, National Muffin Day, and National Cherry Pie Day (plus, it’s also… National Cherry Month and Great American Pies Month).
February 21st is… National Grain-Free Day and National Sticky Bun Day. Plus, being the third Friday in February (for 2025), it’s also… No One Eats Alone Day and National Caregivers Day.
Saturday, February 22nd, is… National California Day, National Cook a Sweet Potato Day, and National Margarita Day.
Sunday, February 23rd, is… National Banana Bread Day and National Dog Biscuit Day. Check out the Recipes tab for Mom’s imitations of both.
Have a great week!
…7 down and 45 to go!
