My daughter began her career as a foodie at the age of 8, while I was confined to the couch for six weeks during pregnancy. Although friends and loved ones faithfully arrived with casseroles and slow cookers full of something delicious, Emily took it upon herself to greet them at the door, receive reheating instructions, and carry them out.
By the time she was 12, Emily could run the kitchen. One day while pulling weeds, squishing cabbage worms, or some other equally repulsive gardening chore, she begged, “Mommy, don’t ever make me come in this garden again, and I will do all the cooking and learn to can as well.” And she did, with a passion.
At 14, she made jam from the berries we picked on the mountain, and…