I'd say it's pretty safe to say that I think about food more than the average person. I say this because at least half of my day dreams are about it. At any moment I have dozens of recipes that I want to try printed and tucked away. As a matter of fact I admit to wanting to cook so bad that I have taken a day off work to do just that cook. Because when it comes down to it, I am an emotional eater.
But tell someone you are an emotional eater, and they instantly picture you with an unhealthy relationship with food, secretly gorging on comfort food in the middle of the night to cope with life's stress. I’m not going to lie there have been many nights drinking chocolate milk from the carton in my undies or crashed out on the floor with a tub of Ben & Jerry’s because I felt fat and ice cream is productive. But that isn’t what I am referring to; I’m talking about the power of food.
How it can transport you – to your childhood, to a different country, to specific memories in your life. There are dishes like my grandma’s blackberry cobbler that can transport me to some of my most favorite childhood memories like the hours and hours I'd spend picking the berries outside with my great-grandmother. The stains on my little hands, the stomach ache's I would get from eating so many. The hours it seemed we smell the cobbler before we could dive in after dinner.... and most of all the smell.
Sometimes it’s not the usual suspect of a food favorite. Every time I taste prociutto I think of buying it from the little short Italian man in Pisa, Italy with hubs. I think of how bad he smelled but how amazing the olive oil and prociutto is that we bought. I remember how he hugged me and shook Aaron's hand after our purchase... I love Italy. Food connects many of my thoughts and memories just a sound and smell do. And yes, good food can make me happy.
Not only do I love food, but I love feeding people. I think I get it from my grandparents as well. They loved to entertain and did on a weekly basis bible studies and women’s groups my grandma was in. There is not better feeling than cooking a meal and then sitting down with your guests and seeing the joy it brings them.
Do you have a recipe that transports you back in time?
I’d love to hear about it, or even better make one of your families recipe's and blog about it as a tribute to you… my lovely dedicated readers. So tell me what recipes do you have in your stash?
yea - i'm a wiener...or a winner...whateva! LOL!!
ReplyDeleteMy FAVORITE recipe:
Pepperoni Chicken......let me know if you want details! LOL!
Takes me back in time? My grandmother's biscuits and gravy. No other can compare.
ReplyDeleteOh I am with you on this one!! I'd have to say that my Great Grandma's Zucchini Bread takes me wayy back to when I was a little girl! I've actually blogged about it and shared my recipe on my blog awhile back...and I just made some the other night. It is so good...but probably not as good as hers!!!
ReplyDeleteMy mom and her mom were never big cooks. They'd broil meat and throw potatoes in a pot. I think I learned to cook from their LACK of cooking. Does that make sense?
ReplyDeleteBut my dad's mother makes a mean kale soup. I don't even think she has a recipe but some stock, linguisa sausage, potatoes and kale? Takes me back to the good ol' days. :)
I love food too! And I guarantee I think about it more than anyone else I know. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, food can have very powerful food memories attached to it. That's a great one that you have with Italy!
There are lot of recipes that reming me of my childhood. Most of the are my grandmothers. Our family gathers at her house every Sunday after church-my whole life.
ReplyDeleteShe always has a homemade banana pudding, the good kind with real bananas, whipped cream and vanilla wafers. I'm not a big banana pudding fan, but hers is incredible.
Another recipe that I love, is my mom's cheeseball. I always thought she slaved away making these delicious cheesballs, but I've got that recipe now and its not that hard. Still tastes better when she makes it. : )