I had a rather eclectic upbringing. My mother believed in the importance of making sure I knew how to make some of the basics in Jewish cuisine. At the time, she was trying to teach me these recipes, I am not sure that I fully appreciated that what she was teaching me with these recipes was a story, not just about the food, but about Jewish culture, how the dishes came into being, and how the legacy of preparing food made with love was part of the legacy she had gotten from her mother and was passing on to me. Yesterday, I gathered with a few friends and decided to make my mother’s noodle kugel.