I have many favorite tools in my kitchen–my knives, pans, whetstone, cutting boards…
None are as sentimental to me as this little pig. It is a cutting board that my grandfather made for my grandmother, Viola. I don’t remember her kitchen being without that pig! So that means he made it at least 50 years ago and probably much longer than that. I suspect the wood it’s carved from came from a tree on their farm. He was a Swede and loved wood-working like many Swedes who lived in the area of Western New York.
Grandma was an absolutely wonderful cook. Her house always smelled glorious, especially when she was making homemade bread and rolls. My mouth is starting to water because I am remembering this so well! Anyway, she was amazing and always cooking up something in the kitchen. She canned vegetables and fruit, made dill and bread-and-butter pickles, jams. If she wasn’t cooking up a feast, then she was likely in the field or up in the barn milking the cows. She happily cooked for hungry farmers, family and friends. I truly think that she is the reason why I love to cook and believe me, I use that little pig almost everyday!