I did not have a Leave it to Beaver childhood - both my parents worked for as far back as I can remember, and it was my and my sister's responsibility to get dinner on the stove and ready for when mom got home. Dad always got home much later... At some point, when my siblings and I were in our very early teens -- I was probably 11 or 12... My parents decided that family dinners were going to happen... with their schedules - it was tough - but one night a week - generally on saturday or sunday we had family dinner in the living room -- generally fondue was served - whether it be chicken, beef, or cheese fondue -- it wasa meal that took a while to eat... and encouraged communication amongst the family... (well they tried to anyhow)
I recently tried making cheese fondue - and it was honestly the worst swill I've ever made - and was embarassed to serve it it was so awful... It wasn't that bad when Iw as a kid - but I guess it's true - -you can't go home again
Chicken soup is another memory of childhood -- my father, for a while developed a hobby of cooking on sundays and would make chicken soup... somewhere in his vast years of high education, he never quite grasped the part where when you make chicken soup-- you make the broth -- strain it -- then throw all the crap in it -- nope - not dead ole dad... He'd make the broth - then put the rice and stuff into it-- and when you ate it -- you'd have to pick thru the bones... To this day.. I absolutely cannot stand chicken soup...