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Week 18: Hot Tamale Mama
Tamale pie was probably not the best recipe choice for a woman who is 38 weeks pregnant. In my defense, it was recipe selection for Cinco DeMayo and likely no Mexican food would be suitable for my pregnant daughter to enjoy without heartburn. She was a trooper though, and we had a lot of fun preparing […]
Week 17: The Crazy Cake Cure
Cake is the ultimate problem solver. Or so I thought when I was a kid. I was eight when I baked my first cake for my mom to cheer her up, using a recipe from my Betty Crocker Cookbook for Kids. I followed the directions to a T (unlike the way I cook now). When […]
Week 16: Italian Easter Pie and Finding Religion
I don’t recall going to church before the age of 12. Then suddenly, my mom found religion and we started going to an Episcopal church that was part of the born-again movement of the 70’s. The first time I attended, I was dressed in my red and white Cowboy cheer uniform, because there was a game […]
Week 15: Tofu Friend Is Not an Insult
I’m a tofu friend. When I was first given that label I thought it meant I was a health fanatic like, “crunchy” or “granola”. I thought it was ironic because I didn’t even like tofu at the time. When I asked my friend to clarify what she meant by “tofu friend”, she told me that […]
Week 14: Vegan Rum and Rye Pancakes
My daughter Kara can’t stand “breakfast for dinner”. I think it’s because as a child she was sensitive enough to pick-up that “breakfast for dinner” meant we were broke. We may not have mentioned our lack of funds, but she probably felt my tension rise or heard her dad and I discuss (argue) about money. […]
Week 13: If It’s Good Enough for the Queen
I’ve never thought of food as a historical narrative. It’s easy to draw the line from certain recipes to their geographical origin, such as seafood in coastal cultures, exotic fruit in the tropics, or peppers, avocados, and corn in hot climates. Until this week I’d never made the social or historical connection, and I’m now realizing […]
Week 11: Life’s Too Short Not To Be Irish
There are many occasions when I feel like I’m channeling my mom. Sometimes it’s preparing shellfish, checking the tension on my stitches when I sew or remembering the “trick” to the perfect whipped cream(see below). Other times, it’s the complete delight I experience at the coast of Maine or the hunger that led me to visit Ireland. […]
Week 10: Last One There Is a Rotten Egg!
Being the youngest daughter of five has its advantages. You almost always have playmates, loyal defenders, and dedicated caregivers. You are smothered with love and affection. In the case of my mom, I actually got a lot of cuddles and affection because, being so young, I could give endless unconditional love and comfort through very […]
Week 8 : Double Date Shake
I hold my mother responsible for my indecent sense of humor. Anyone who’s spent more than a few hours with me has been witness to my ability to find a double (often risque) meaning at every opportunity; (see Week 6: Popeye’s Balls as a demonstration). Seriously, it’s not that I’m immature (maybe I am), or […]
Week 1 : Commit and Complete
Welcome to my brain the past several days leading up to this first entry… “This is going to be exciting, I’m ready!” “Three years…three f-ing years you’ve talked about this!” “Nobody cares. Why blog about it on the f-ing Internet. I must have a huge ego or maybe I’m really a narcissist?” Wait… I should […]