By José Pablo Harz
July 24, 2024

“We made the first video last week, showing how to make your Easter buns. It got tons of views, and we were answering questions about it for the rest of the day,” said her daughter. The culinary legacy of older adults deserves to be shared on social networks.

The elderly are very knowledgeable. Our grandparents usually have thousands of anecdotes that they have fun lovingly telling us about. It is a much more analytical stage. They enjoy sharing and imparting a bit of their wisdom. Unfortunately, not everyone has the chance to do this. Some people bid their grandparents farewell at an early age or don’t get to meet them at all. Luckily, technology is an asset that opens opportunities for us.

Why settle for listening to her recipes, when we can share them with everyone on social media? This idea crossed the mind of Mary Ellen Raneri, the daughter of Lucy Pollock, a 97-year-old cooking expert.

Facebook: Mary Ellen Raneri

“We made the first video last week, showing how to make your Easter buns. It got tons of views, and we were answering questions about it for the rest of the day,” Lucy’s surprised daughter told TRIBLive.

The idea started as a suggestion from a friend, which was later taken seriously. The family came to Ellis Island (United States) years ago as immigrants and cooking was just a part of their way of living:

Facebook: Mary Ellen Raneri

«My grandmother baked for her 10 children as well as for other people. When my father passed away in 2012 and we were cleaning the house, two big red boxes were a top priority. They were full of recipes going back to the 1920s. It’s very cool to go through them,” Mary Ellen told the same source.

Appearing before the camera was never the 97-year-old lady’s biggest concern. What concerns her the most is the quality of their products the details provided in ‘the classes’ she began teaching.

Facebook: Mary Ellen Raneri

“I asked her what she thought the hardest part would be about videotaping and she said, ‘Nothing,’ She was more worried about the yeast. My mother was very particular when she used yeast. People tend to make the water too hot. My mother pounded into our heads not to make the water too hot and burn the yeast.” said Mary Ellen.

The reactions of those who have joined the Facebook group and have seen the first couple of videos have been quite positive. Hopefully, this project will be a success and many people will acquire new knowledge to take home. Remember, we’ve already seen similar cases with very good results.

“It was great to see the messages and comments we got during the first livestream. People would mention all kinds of recipes that they’d also passed down through their families,” said Mary Ellen.

Long live your mommy, Mary Ellen. We look forward to cheering Mrs. Lucy Pollock on with her venture.

 

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