Everyone has childhood memories that conjure up nostalgia. For me, fast food takeout and restaurant dining was less common back then, reserved mostly for special occasions. Stay-at-home moms took great pride in budget-friendly menus stretching groceries to the max. Waste not, want not. My home economics teacher encouraged me to serve colorful food on the plate. One of the expressions I used to hear from adults was, “Eat everything, so you can be a member of the Clean Plate Club.” Sound familiar? Mealtime became an emotional all-star event tapping into our sense of accomplishment. And speaking of stars…Some of my posts have received a nod from the “Food Network” and “Le Cordon Bleu” on Twitter (Snapshotsincursive@DornaGail) as well as Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa, on Instagram @gail_dorna. This continuous journey of the palate gives me time with you. Thanks very much to all of my guests and followers on http://snapshotsincursive.com for the uplifting support, award nominations, and moving words of encouragement. What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? It’s as simple as A-B-C. I love to cook, and my husband loves that I do it often. Most recipes serve 2-4 people, but can be easily modified. Leftovers are golden morsels to be eaten later or shared with others. Seeing a smile of gratitude keeps me going. Now take a deep breath, inhale the aromas, and join me on a tasteful journey entitled, “EATING MY WAY THROUGH THE ALPHABET: THE CLEAN PLATE CLUB!”
The Clean Plate Club
snapshotsincursive 
Dear Gail, I love your blog! It is always varied, colourful and the recipes so easy to follow and sooooo tasty! 😋😋😋 Here in my county, the Orchard County, we will soon be enjoying many freshly picked apples! Perhaps we will find some on your blog too.
https://irelandonabudget.com/armagh-irelands-orchard-county/
I’ve not heard of the CleanPlateClub but know only too well the expression “Waste not, want not” my parents having lived through WW2. I still follow that phrase! 👍 Keep posting and whilst we may not physically meet you in your kitchen your posts are the next best thing! Happiness is……..looking forward to snapshotincursive.com 😍🤗😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have no idea how delightful it was to wake up to a “Tour of Ireland”. I meandered about the apple orchards, land of fairies, and cultural buildings breathing in the fresh country air. Thank you, Ashley, for sharing it with me. My winding country stream trickles quietly past the house as the sycamore trees shed layers of bark among enormous leaves on the driveway. 🍁🍂🌾
LikeLiked by 1 person
I grew up the same! Waste not want not!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good Roots! 🪴
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yesssssss!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
“The Clean Plate Club”— I am an active member.😂😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Funny how it becomes ingrained, isn’t it? 😜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes.
LikeLiked by 2 people
We grew up with the same clean plate philosophy, and there were no options if you didn’t like what was being served so we learned to eat everything! Of course, the tendency to clean the plate, even after being satisfied, has led to extra pounds here and there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Then again, picky eaters learned to like it or go hungry. 😜
LikeLike
Clean plate club 😅 my mom tells me the same she still does 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s ingrained in some of us. 🤣
LikeLiked by 2 people
It really is 😂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Grew up as the baby of four siblings. If you did not grab a chicken wing fast enough, one of the others would have it eaten! Clean Plate Clubs were unheard of in the Post household and completely unnecessary! Mother was a great cook from potato soup (didn’t realize as a kid, we could not afford lots of meat; I thought we had it because it tasted sooo good) to filet mignon (to which we graduated as dad’s income increased). Sometimes the soup was a little thin, but Mother made sure we were all eating well.😋
LikeLiked by 2 people
We had four kids in five years….until my sister came along 9 years later. 🤣 But you’re right. My parents always made sure we had three meals a day plus dessert after supper. Taught me how to live on a grocery budget. 👏
LikeLiked by 2 people