You just can't beat homemade

Paradise! I just rediscovered the source of the most delicious mustard on the planet, and now have three jars in my fridge to enjoy before stocking up again.

I speak of none other than Esther’s mustard — hot and sweet, homemade by the amazing Esther Voth of Manitou.

I discovered this delicacy one day by chance (many years ago) when walking by Esther’s booth in Roland, where I was emceeing a giant pumpkin event.

One taste and I was hooked.

Caution — I do warn you that Esther’s mustard can be addictive, which is a good thing because it’s delicious, available and very affordable.

Before writing this column I had the breakfast of champions, coffee (of course) and cinnamon raisin bread toast slathered with Esther’s mustard. It just doesn’t get any better.

It’s so good — as so many homemade delights are.

I’ve never introduced this gem to a mustard fan who didn’t get hooked, as with my neighbour Frank a couple of days ago.

I gave him a jar and said, "Tell me what you think of this."

A couple of hours later he said, "I had some with lunch. Excellent. Delicious."

Want some? Contact either Esther Voth in Manitou, 204-242-2230, e-mail: hotmustard03@hotmail.com or in Winnipeg, Marie at 204-770-7267 and — before long — you’ll crave mustard on everything! See what I did there? Enjoy.

Nothing beats homemade and when I decided to share Esther’s mustard with you, I posed the following question on my Facebook page.

The response was fabulous and fascinating. Everyone has a homemade favourite!

"Does or did someone in your life make something ‘homemade’ that you are or were absolutely insane about?"

Personally, my Mom’s brownie pudding was a big fave. I loved it! Here’s some top picks from my Facebook friends:

"Mother’s homemade soups," Cornelius wrote. "Three kinds of borscht, carrot soup, bean soup. Laurie you gotta quit posting crap like this, now I’m hungry."

Blaine: "My three kids! They were all made at home and I love them to bits... oh, food!... sorry."

"My Mom’s cabbage rolls!" Marilyn wrote.

"My Mom’s beef brisket dinner," Frank wrote. "So fall apart tender."

Jan: "Mom’s homemade hot dog relish. UMMMMMM I can still close my eyes and smell the pickle scent in the air..."

"My mother-in-law combines new potatoes from the garden with a creamy dill sauce," Suzie wrote. "Just the thought makes me crave them."

Zofia: "My Mom made doughnuts out of yeast dough and she put rose petals inside... kind of made a jam out of rose petals. The fragrance and the taste – Heaven in the mouth."

"Honey Chapman’s butter tarts. The very best!" Marilyn wrote. (Honey was married to my cousin Jack, I remember, those tarts were phenomenal).

Penny: "My Mom’s butter tarts made with currants not raisins ..."

Jackie: "My Mom was famous in my family and area for baking ‘the best buns in town’! And I personally loved her homemade mustard pickles that went perfectly with her homemade ‘klopps’ or fried meatballs (Mennonite thing I think). My Mom’s name is Elsie." Cheers Elsie!!

Lisa: "My Mom is famous for her lemon cannoli (you can never stop at one), and her mouth watering gnocchi."

Laurie: (not me) "Mom’s apple crisp, rhubarb pie, and an onion biscuit topping over a chicken pot pie or traditional Scottish recipe. My French Grandmother was a master at delicacies including peach pie, freshly made croissants, a shortbread called Cat’s Tongue... the name based on the shape, and a traditional water chestnut casserole with rabbit."

Jocelyn: "My Grandma made the best cinnamon buns. I asked for the recipe and she said, ‘It’s a handful of this, then two pinches of that, and ...’ ...bottom line, no recipe."

Rene: "My Mother made homemade just about everything we ate. My Dad wouldn’t eat store-bought bread, even if it came from the finest bakery, so my Mom baked bread every week, and it was the best ever. I often wonder why the people who make air fresheners have never produced one that smells like freshly-baked bread? There’s no smell more wonderful!"

Mary: "Oxtail stew!"

Rick: "My daughter made a human being which came out today I’m pretty stoked about. We have decided to keep him."

So there you have it, a sampling of homemade food faves and other homemade treasures as well (other than children). Those we’ll save for another column.

And obviously, without Mom, homemade would be non-existent. God bless MOM! Have a great weekend.

Comments or feedback, love to hear from you!

lmustard1948@gmail.com