Since becoming pregnant, many people ask me if I have any strange cravings. Nothing strange so far, but there are some specific foods that I crave for a period of time, and then stop caring about. What is strange, is that I have gone from liking pretty much all foods (except oysters) to having some very distinct dislikes.
Early on,when the morning sickness was horrible, the most delicious thing I could imagine eating was a cheeseburger. As a result, Tom bought lots of Bubba Burgers so he could grill them at home for me. We still have two left, because I am now totally indifferent to cheeseburgers. Cantaloupe enjoyed its place in the spotlight for a fortnight. Other foods, like Mexican food and tomatoes have always been my favorites and continue to be. Eggs on the other hand, disgust me, when once I could easily eat 6-12 deviled eggs by myself.
Most recently, I have been craving my mother's potato salad. This is an issue. You should know that my mother makes the best potato salad in the world. Now I know you may think your mother or someone else you knows makes the best potato salad. It is normal to believe that because typically one's family sets the norm for what you consider to be delicious, so I accept that you believe your mom's potato salad is the best. Just suffice it to say, that when my mom makes her potato salad, she must make it in 10-20 pound batches because people send containers over to get some of her potato salad. It is truly that good.
Now those that don't know my mom may wonder why this is an issue. Well my mom is in Oklahoma and I'm in Maryland. She can't safely ship her potato salad to me. I am also sad to admit, that I have never made her potato salad. (When you have Michelangelo painting your ceiling, do you grab the paintbrush? No, you sit back and marvel at the genius.)
Well this weekend I took potato peeler in hand and made my first attempt. First, I received directions from mom, not a recipe, but directions. You must understand that there is no recipe, just Do's and Don't's and tasting for perfection. I have to declare, the potato salad a success. It is creamy, but still has chunks of potatoes. It isn't dominated by one ingredient, like mayonnaise or mustard, but instead is a harmonious blend that shows of the potatoes. Thankfully Tom agrees, because I made 5 pounds of potato salad. It is so yummy and reminds me of home and love and my mom.
That's a relief. It would be horrible if Ii had disliked it or been indifferent to it. The other strange food response has been chocolate. Before becoming pregnant, i adored chocolate. I love dark chocolate, because it was just extra chocolate. Now I am completely indifferent. I see it, I acknowledge it, but the passion, the cravings that have been a constant in my life are gone. I have joked that this means I'm having a boy, because if i was carrying another female, that would only increase my love of chocolate. Today Tom and I found out that I was right.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Food Inspired by Actual Events
Whenever I feel overwhelmed about working and having a child, I think of my grandmother, Dottie. In the early 50s, as the mother of 3 boys (each 2 years apart in age) she completed her college degree in 3 years and began her career as a teacher. During this time she and my grandfather were constantly working on their house. (My dad's former bedroom was in the present day basement of a house that now boasts a garage apartment t-that's how much work they did.) They were both constantly busy.
Dottie has shared with me that she never knew how many would sit down at the dinner table each night, but she did know that they would all be hungry. She learned to be a flexible cook, even though or maybe because, her mother had never taught her to cook. Dottie says there are times that she has dreams that large groups of friends are coming to dinner unexpectedly, and she needs to make dinner with no idea of what ingredients she has in the house. She says these dreams aren't stressful, just pleasantly familiar. She is fearless about substitutions.
Which brings me to my cooking. My mother is an excellent cook. Her mother actually won ribbons at the county fair and had recipes featured in regional cookbooks. I consider myself a good to okay cook, but rarely use recipes, unless they are for something that my mother never made, like risotto. This summer however, given the heat and the non-stop morning sickness , I have not been able to face making food most nights. Luckily, Tom is often happy with Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches.
(Side note from my inner feminist- Tom and I made a deal when we moved into our house with no dishwasher- I'll cook, if he washes dishes. I HATE washing dishes, so I am not renegotiating. Besides, with the pregnancy, he is now cleaning the catbox too.)
Well this past week the tide has turned and I have begun cooking again.
I was looking for inspiration (often the greatest hurdle I face in my cooking) and feeling homesick, so I checked out a blog my aunt Gail recommended, The Pioneer Woman Cooks. I found a "16-minute meal" that looked good Bowtie Lasagna . I read it over, and decided I would make it that night.
The recipe called for:
Cooked Bowtie Pasta
Jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
Browned Ground beef
Garlic powder and Italian Seasoning
Mozzarella cheese
Sour Cream
When I got home, this is what I made
Instead of Bowtie Pasta, I used Penne Pasta (What i had in the pantry)
Instead of Jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce, I made my own (I always make my own with fresh garlic, canned whole tomatoes, and Italian seasoning. It's easy and I know exactly what's in it)
Instead of Browned Ground Beef (which I didn't have any thawed out) I used some cooked chicken breasts I had frozen to use in salads . I defrosted in the microwave and then just cubed them.
Instead of Mozzarella Cheese, I used shaved Parmesan Cheese (I may not be required by law to have always have Parmesan Cheese in the house, but I might as well be. I think of it as Italian salt, instead of additional salt I just add fresh Parmesan.)
Instead of sour cream, I had Greek yogurt, so I just threw a spoonful of it in at the end.
Tom loved it! I then told him I got the recipe a website, except instead of this, I used that. As I went through the list, I realized what I had done.
I am my grandmother's granddaughter.
At this point, I'll just say that I was inspired by the recipe on the Pioneer Woman Cooks website, but I can't really say it's her recipe. Besides, it is my core belief that quick meal, shouldn't require a special trip to the grocery store.
Happy eating!
Dottie has shared with me that she never knew how many would sit down at the dinner table each night, but she did know that they would all be hungry. She learned to be a flexible cook, even though or maybe because, her mother had never taught her to cook. Dottie says there are times that she has dreams that large groups of friends are coming to dinner unexpectedly, and she needs to make dinner with no idea of what ingredients she has in the house. She says these dreams aren't stressful, just pleasantly familiar. She is fearless about substitutions.
Which brings me to my cooking. My mother is an excellent cook. Her mother actually won ribbons at the county fair and had recipes featured in regional cookbooks. I consider myself a good to okay cook, but rarely use recipes, unless they are for something that my mother never made, like risotto. This summer however, given the heat and the non-stop morning sickness , I have not been able to face making food most nights. Luckily, Tom is often happy with Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches.
(Side note from my inner feminist- Tom and I made a deal when we moved into our house with no dishwasher- I'll cook, if he washes dishes. I HATE washing dishes, so I am not renegotiating. Besides, with the pregnancy, he is now cleaning the catbox too.)
Well this past week the tide has turned and I have begun cooking again.
I was looking for inspiration (often the greatest hurdle I face in my cooking) and feeling homesick, so I checked out a blog my aunt Gail recommended, The Pioneer Woman Cooks. I found a "16-minute meal" that looked good Bowtie Lasagna . I read it over, and decided I would make it that night.
The recipe called for:
Cooked Bowtie Pasta
Jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
Browned Ground beef
Garlic powder and Italian Seasoning
Mozzarella cheese
Sour Cream
When I got home, this is what I made
Instead of Bowtie Pasta, I used Penne Pasta (What i had in the pantry)
Instead of Jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce, I made my own (I always make my own with fresh garlic, canned whole tomatoes, and Italian seasoning. It's easy and I know exactly what's in it)
Instead of Browned Ground Beef (which I didn't have any thawed out) I used some cooked chicken breasts I had frozen to use in salads . I defrosted in the microwave and then just cubed them.
Instead of Mozzarella Cheese, I used shaved Parmesan Cheese (I may not be required by law to have always have Parmesan Cheese in the house, but I might as well be. I think of it as Italian salt, instead of additional salt I just add fresh Parmesan.)
Instead of sour cream, I had Greek yogurt, so I just threw a spoonful of it in at the end.
Tom loved it! I then told him I got the recipe a website, except instead of this, I used that. As I went through the list, I realized what I had done.
I am my grandmother's granddaughter.
At this point, I'll just say that I was inspired by the recipe on the Pioneer Woman Cooks website, but I can't really say it's her recipe. Besides, it is my core belief that quick meal, shouldn't require a special trip to the grocery store.
Happy eating!
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