Welcome To The Grub!

Mary Hogan Glenn | January 18th, 2025

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Welcome to Glenn Girls Grub! This page is dedicated to all things foodie. From restaurant reviews to homemade recipes to adventures around the globe, I am here to show you just how fun and exciting the world of eating can be for a college kid. Whether we realize it or not, our lives revolve around what we eat. Our days are marked by mealtimes, our trips by reservations, and our holidays by gathering around the table. Food is all around us and is essential to enjoying life to the fullest.

4 year old MH cheesing over bucatini all'amatriciana in Italy

Food has always captivated me. From cooking in the kitchen with my grandmother to traveling to Italy at four years old, I was mesmerized by vibrant flavors that sent my taste buds soaring. It wasn’t just the food itself that intrigued me—it was the memories, traditions, and connections that surrounded it. Food is so much more than vegetables and meat on a plate. It’s a shared universal language that brings people together, which is why I love it so much! As a kid, my grandmother’s signature "Nenee noodles" symbolized the joy of family time. Cooking became a time of creation for me. For my eighth birthday, I asked for a cooking class and cheffed it up in my own monogrammed coat. Something about the creativity and artistry fascinated me, and now, with social media and the internet expanding the culinary world, there is more to explore than ever before. And lets not look over eating out. Trying new restaurants was a highlight of my childhood trips. Exploring new foods and indulging in treats like appetizers and mocktails was a blast for elementary school Mary Hogan. These defining moments as a food lover shaped who I am today, so let’s dive a little deeper into why food is so important beyond just its amazing flavors.

My great Grandmother Patsy Ruth Hogan pictured with the Glenn family

One of the most special things about food is its ability to bring family together. I have always cherished the traditions my family has carried with their love of food. It all started with my great-grandmother, Patsy Ruth Hogan, who is my namesake! Despite being highly diabetic, she loved feeding each member of her family, and as her family grew, so did their table gatherings. She was best known for her Sunday lunches, filled with black-eyed peas, fried chicken, cornbread, collard greens, and more! And of course, everything was homemade. Each week, family would gather to enjoy full plates that created memories that have lasted generations. I am beyond grateful to carry her name, "Hogan," and my wish is that this blog would live up to even a small portion of the selflessness and love she shared through her cooking.

Family dinners have always been a priority in my life, and I can't express their overall health benefits enough! According to The Family Dinner Project, only about 30% of families regularly eat dinner together, even though shared mealtimes have significant benefits for children. They are also known to decrease mental health issues like depression and anxiety, and increase self-esteem in children. Growing up in a house where family dinner was of the utmost importance, I can see firsthand the importance of family dinner and the beneficial effects it has had on my life.

MH cooking dinner with her grandmother "Nenee"

But it’s not just about family; food also fosters fellowship and community with friends. I don’t think it’s a coincidence how often the Bible mentions food. From feasting to fasting, it is an essential part of the Christian life. We see Jesus gather around the table with his followers and disciples. He fed the 5,000, provided manna in the wilderness, taught about the mustard seed, brought mercy on his people during the passover feast, reclined at a table with his twelve disciples at the Last Supper, and referred to himself as "the bread of life." Even the word "feast" appears over 100 times in scripture, highlighting its significance. While we are not to depend on food for happiness or prosperity, as Christians, it is clearly meant to bring us together and be enjoyed.

MH at her first cooking class

"This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord: throughout your generations, as a statute forever."

- Exodus 12:12

“For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” – Psalm 107:9

Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” – John 6:35

Along with fostering relationships, food is also a way to connect and discover different cultures. Every dish tells a story, from the spices that flavor it to the hands that prepare it. Exploring different cuisines has always been one of my favorite ways to connect with the world around me. Trying foods like authentic Italian pasta, or even Southern classics from right here at home gives us a glimpse into the traditions and values of the people who create them. It’s incredible how something as simple as a meal can bring people from vastly different backgrounds together.

Food is also a way to take care of your self and honor your body. To me, eating well doesn't mean counting calories and cutting out carbs, it means filling yourself with

good ingredients like fruits, veggies, and good sources of protein that keep your body feeling balanced and happy. This one simple task can make a huge difference in your mental, emotional, and physical well being. In the chaos of college life, I’ve found that taking the time to cook a good meal or even just enjoying food when I know my body needs it makes all the difference. It’s these small moments of joy and comfort that make food so much more than just sustenance.

So welcome to Glenn Girls Grub—a page that means so much more to me than just recipes and restaurant reviews. My hope is that as you follow my journey, you’ll begin to grasp just how important food is and how it can add joy to life rather than feeling like a burden. Let’s dig in together!

Sources

• Fishel, A. (2015, January 9). Science Says: Eat With Your Kids. The Conversation. Retrieved January 15, 2025, from https://theconversation.com/science-says-eat-with-your-kids-34573