Television titan Gayle King reflects on her tight-knit relationship with her mama, shares her mama's traditional Mac & Cheese and Thanksgiving Jello Dessert recipes. They discuss childhood memories, travel joys, desire to be remembered, and Thanksgiving traditions.
The kitchen is the emotional heartbeat of the home, fostering connections and conversations.
Living in Turkey as a child, Gayle King recalls the cultural differences and continental breakfasts she experienced.
Deep dives
Gail King's Childhood Memories in the Kitchen
Gail King shares her childhood memories of her mom's kitchen, highlighting their Thanksgiving traditions. She reminisces about slapping the turkey before it went in the oven, a tradition that continues in her family. Saturday nights were special with game nights and Sloppy Joe dinners. Gail also recalls the breakfasts her mom made, including coffee cake, scrambled eggs with cheese and bacon. Although Gail didn't have many stories about the kitchen, she recognizes the kitchen as the emotional heartbeat of the home.
Gail King's Experiences Living in Turkey
Gail King talks about her experiences living in Turkey as a child while her father was stationed there. She attended an American school and didn't fully appreciate the global experience at that young age. She fondly remembers eating a lot of bread and mistakenly eating too much during a school outing. Despite not having vivid memories of the kitchen in Turkey, Gail recalls the continental breakfasts and the cultural differences she encountered.
Gail King's Bond with Her Mother
Gail King reflects on her deep bond with her mother and how she valued her presence in the kitchen when she came home. Her mother was always there, ready to take on any task or project for her children. Gail describes her mother as elegant and classy, and marvels at how all her daughters thought they were their mother's favorite. She also expresses her desire for her grandson to have a sense of her and become a part of their family traditions.
The Significance of the Kitchen in Gail King's Life
Gail King believes that the kitchen is the heartbeat of the household, even if she doesn't cook much herself. She recalls her parents' advice and anecdotes that resonated with her, such as her dad's habit of asking what she learned every day. Gail shares the rituals she had with her own children, like discussing the best and worst parts of their day. While she may not have inherited her mother's cooking skills, Gail considers the kitchen a special gathering place that fosters connections and conversations.
Television titan Gayle King reflects on her and her mama’s tight-knit relationship including her upbringing in Turkey and then Maryland. Gayle famously doesn’t cook, but she shares not one… but TWO recipes with us. Her mama’s traditional Mac & Cheese and her famous Thanksgiving Jello Dessert.
Gayle King is a TV personality and broadcast journalist. She’s about to host a new, weekly primetime show on CNN with Charles Barkely set to launch this fall. She’s received the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism. Before this, she co-hosted CBS’s flagship morning program, CBS Mornings beginning in 2012.