When I make lemonade, I only use 4 cups of water.

June 8, 2010 · Filed under Uncategorized

My mother has a few lines of advice that she tends to repeat to my sister and me. So growing up and being merciless daughters, we have come to recite these lines as a litany anytime my mother begins to give us “advice.” These tried and true include words of wisdom while making lemonade that instead of following the instructions on the frozen lemonade can to add 4 and 1/3 cup of water, to only use 4. That the keys to the shed are in the drawer. To remove the saran wrap before re-heating a frozen spanakopita… the list goes on.

            Recently at a supermarket in Rivne, I saw packages of pudding mix. I never really ate pudding in America and I am still unsure as to why the idea of pudding appealed to me so much, but I bought a packet of vanilla and a packet of chocolate. After the last bell, I returned home to attempt to make pudding for my host family and me. There was much discussion as I worked about what exactly pudding was and how I was supposed to make it. I had read the Ukrainian instructions and began to cook when my host mother then also read the instructions and began to direct me as well. Sadly, on the first go around, the pudding wasn’t really thickening despite cooking it longer than the package said. I finally took it off the stove in hopes that it would firm up in the fridge. The next morning, I came into the kitchen to check on the pudding. It was still quite liquidy. My host mother turned to me and said, “So are the products in Ukraine. You know, Claire, whenever a package says something like 1.5 liters, I always only use 1.” It was so reminiscent of my mom that I stared at Alla dumfounded for a moment. Apparently these “helpful tips” are universal and mothers simply cannot help themselves. I proceeded to reheat the pudding liquid and managed to get a more pudding like consistency from both the chocolate and the vanilla. But I continue to wonder if Alla also keeps the keys to the shed in the drawer.