Mothers, daughters bond in kitchen
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

Mothers and daughters have used cooking as a bonding experience for many years.

That tradition will continue - just in time for Mother's Day - at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 12 at the Broadway Market, 999 Broadway Ave., Buffalo, with the "Savor the Flavor" cooking demonstrations hosted by Sandy Starks, Western New York field editor of "Taste of Home" magazine and founding member of Slow Food Buffalo.

Joining Starks will be her daughter, Devon, as well as Amherst resident Julie Panepento and her daughter, Noelle.

"We are focusing on traditions and how cooking and food keep family together, whether we're passing on tradition or just spending time together," said Julie, who is also a member of Slow Food Buffalo.

Established in 1888, the Broadway Market is an appropriate setting for passing on such traditions. The market continues to serve Western New Yorkers with fresh meat, poultry, produce and baked goods, as well as a place to connect with people and history.

Julie and Noelle will be preparing "maple chicken" and banana bread as part of the demonstration

two dishes that have sentimental significance in their household.

"We've been going to the Maple Weekend every March for about five years," said Julie, who is a work-from-home computer programmer. "We picked up the recipe the first year and have been making it ever since. It really brings you back to an experience."

Maple Weekend is an annual event held statewide and sponsored locally by the Western New York State Maple Producers Association.

The banana bread recipe came from an alphabet cookbook that found a home in the Panepento house when Noelle was young.

"It's kind of a sentimental recipe," Julie said.

According to Julie, Noelle has been at home in the kitchen since she was very young.

"I think the story that my mom tells everyone is that I was hungry one day and she couldn't make me something to eat, so I just made my own lunch," Noelle laughed. "She came running in because she heard all of the drawers and cabinets opening and saw this little peanut butter and jelly sandwich sitting on the counter."

As Noelle - now a freshman at Amherst High School - has grown up, she and her mother have made time in their busy schedules to enjoy cooking together.

"We were going to cooking classes at Delish," Noelle said, referring to the Elmwood Avenue cooking school. Her mother also noted that Noelle has branched out to become an active volunteer at the Amherst Museum, giving cooking demonstrations in period costume.

Noelle, who has aspirations to be a pastry chef, also noted that the bonding experience she shares with her mother in the kitchen is something she hopes to pass on to her children.

"Cooking is just really fun and really creative," she said.

Other dishes being prepared for tasting at the event will be cheesecake from the Turgeon Brothers restaurants and a spring salad with edible flowers.

Prepaid reservations for the event are required. The cost per person is $11 and includes samples of each dish, take-home recipe cards and coupons good for products at the Broadway Market.

For more information or to make a reservation, call Your Buffalo Tours at 839-5150 or visit www. YourBuffaloTours. com.

e-mail: etaufa@beenews.com