I recently asked my family about food memories. They’re mostly related to hearty, homemade meals and treats, and often come with the memory of an aroma as well as the taste.

Some memories are linked to family routines, like Thursday Curry night when I was growing up. Curry was easily made and kept warm until we got home from judo and ate at varying times across the evening.

Others are from specific occasions, like when my grandmother pulled a bunch of baked goodies from the freezer at short notice for a grandchild’s surprise visit; or the time my grandfather ate through his paper plate because he so enjoyed the French Onion Chicken Casserole my brother cooked.

Several of us also remember the same grandfather having a particular liking for a breakfast of pigs’ trotters! He is also remembered for making home made hot chips served in rolled up newspaper, just like they did at the fish and chip shop.

One of my grandmothers was good at whipping up something from very little. Using leftovers to make fried meat fritters, or creating a simple pie for a hungry teenage son.

When my other grandmother married she didn’t even know how to boil an egg, and learned by necessity. Cooking for a large family was fairly basic – with lots of mince and sausages, potatoes, peas and carrots. She had a talent with Christmas cakes and puddings though, which were considered exotic, and fairly expensive.

An old exercise book or diary with recipes stuck in it was a kitchen staple for both grandmothers.

The menu below is compiled from the food memories of various members of my family.