In the winter of 2006 I reluctantly moved back home.
I didn't really want to give up my apartment, but facing a surgery without insurance is a scary thing. With no income for three months I'd lose my apartment for sure. Mother offered, I accepted.
Mom was now in her late 70's & living alone since Dad died some 10 years earlier.
In all honesty I think some of my siblings had been wondering why I wasn't living with her sooner.
Once I got back on my feet and back to work, my siblings encouraged me to stay.
They were right; its nice to be home.
In the spring I tilled the south lawn and planted a garden.
Along the house we planted roses.
In the Summer we enjoy our wine on the deck watching Hummingbirds swoop in and around The Blue Salvia.
For the fist time in my life I was not seeing her as mom I was finally seeing and listening to her.
I had grown up from the rebellious punker. Now we could finally have our adult conversations. We shared the love of theater, discussing politics, light arguments about music.
I joked that we were two old broads, like the Rockford version of Grey Gardens.
We laughed.
The best part of living at home again is the home cooking.
This wonderful woman loves to cook. I do my best..
I have my specialties. I love to make a very spicy meat marinate, I can grill chicken, and I make kick- ass salsa.
ALL of which I am told has too much garlic. Cha!.. as if there is such a thing as too much garlic!
But nothing can't hold a candle to her everyday cooking.
Making breakfast is one of my chores. I enjoy that... it doesn't require too much garlic.
that made Mom happy.
Obviously I think this woman is awesome. But my God she blows me out of the water sometimes...
Mom is up at five o'clock sometimes 4 every morning.
She reads both local & Chicago papers front to back & has both crosswords puzzles Finished before I am even awake!
At 6:00 am I stumble downstairs and proceed to poaching eggs with my eyes half opened. That's about all I can to do at such a God awful hour.
As I was not the best of cooks it was wise to leave the rest to the expert.
And boy howdy she is good.
But you know..when mom really shines?
Dinner.
She is a mom's mom.
She has the wealth of experience, years and years... the tattered cook books and recipe cards from days gone by.
She still loves to try new things all the time. One of her favorite lines while we dine.. "This tastes good to me.. it's a keeper" And to the big basket on top of the fridge it goes.
I have been spoiled.
I knew someday I might start dating again and have to leave the luxury of home cooking.
Unless I manage to start learning this for myself. Or maybe I'll get lucky and snag a great guy who loves to cooks. ( I know they are out there)
It's better to learn this for myself.
I want the knowledge.
I started copying recipe cards and trying my hand at her sauces and Lasagna.
I was learning.
Lets fast forward a bit...
As I have said, I started this venture in July, July 25th 2010 to be precise.
After taking a small break, I return in mid. August
I tried my best with that stupid recipe video from the YouTube .
It was a supreme disappointment.
I needed more than a break.
I cheated.
I used Pre-made shells. Pie # 6-8 were Various Quiches.
Being a great breakfast cook.. I made excellent quiches.. and I needed something to boost my self esteem.
Quiche is the perfect pie. A little egg, sour cream diced veggies thrown into a ready to go shell.
Sweet.
Got a few of those under my belt.
What I needed to do now was find a better pie dough recipe.
Why hadn't I even looked in Mom's beat-up ol' recipe box?
She finally came to my rescue and handed to me the Hilda Mars' Pie Dough recipe.
She also told me a secret...
use a very old recipe with a brand new approach.. a food processor.
Now we're cooking with gas.
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