Check out my progress on Peppered with Dog Hair
For this evening’s post, I am once again drawing inspiration from my nutrition coursework. One of the assignments for my gastronomy class this week involves food memories. My peers and I were charged with the task of recalling our earliest food-related memories and posting them for the class to discuss. I had a multitude of food memories to choose from, ranging from mysteriously absent Mr. Goodbars in my trick-or-treat bag, to Sunday morning doughnuts at Graham’s bakery, to complete befuddlement upon seeing fried okra for the first time. Ultimately, however, I chose to write about an incident I had with pasta salad…
July 4, 1993. I was five years old. Although it was a holiday weekend, it was just like any other day to me; I spent much of the day flouncing about the house, singing the Little Mermaid soundtrack…over and over again. Just as I was finishing up my third reprise of “Part of Your World,” I bounded into the kitchen, tripped over myself, and my socked feet slid across the laminate floor. Desperate to regain my footing, I grabbed the tabletop above me, only to discover a bowl of food resting there. The bowl tumbled on top of me, spilling its contents in all directions across the kitchen. Uh oh.
Every Fourth of July, my family attended a potluck picnic at our church; the congregation gathered every year for good food and fellowship, followed by a fireworks display. For several years now, my mother had prepared her famous pasta salad. It was a simple recipe, featuring chopped vegetables, ham, and cheese, but it was always a crowd-pleaser. Accordingly, my mother had made an extra-large batch that occupied a container that was more similar to a bathtub than a bowl in size.
And now, all that remained in the bowl were a few noodles and a stray carrot or two. According to my child’s logic, the only sensible thing to do to remedy the situation was to put it all back. I scurried about the kitchen grabbing slippery fistfuls and returning them to the bowl. “Mom will never know it happened,” I reasoned with myself, despite the current state of the salad; it was now seasoned with grime and peppered with dog hair. Seconds later, I heard footsteps and looked up to see my older sister staring at me on the floor. One glance at the smooshed cheese cubes on my knees and the beseeching look in my eyes, and she recognized the situation for what it was, and I knew it. I screamed, “Don’t tell Mom!!”
Like any responsible older sister, Lea did indeed tell my mom, who remained surprisingly calm. She sighed, whipped up a (smaller) replacement batch, and chose not to reprimand me for the accident.
Despite this incident, I still enjoy pasta salad today…but not without checking for dog hair first.
What’s your earliest food memory? Please share!!
Fast forward to the present—here’s how I’ve been making some more food memories today:
I was in the mood for some chocolate-coconut action this morning, so I stirred a few drops of SweetLeaf’s chocolate stevia extract into my oat bran. Sadly, I didn’t detect much chocolatey flavor. Nonetheless, it was still a darn tasty breakfast, even if it didn’t meet my cocoa expectations.
Before heading out to class, I whipped up a quick batch of one of my favorite tofu dishes, Curried Tofu Salad. In case you can’t tell, I’m kind of on a pecan kick lately.
I must be anxious for fall to get here—last week, I was all about the pumpkin, and this week I’m bustin’ out the acorn squash. I made a modified version of last year’s Thanksgiving feast by stuffing the squash with a combination of white beans, carrots, onions, sunflower seeds, & fresh sage. The flavors of this dish transported be back to autumns past. Sigh.
Alright I have to go read up on a food blog—get this—as part of another homework assignment. G’night, goobers.
Filed under: Meals
Caroline Yoder, dietitian-to-be and all-around foodie.
Hmm, you’ve puzzled me. I can’t think what my earliest food memory was. I can think of last week when I found dog hair in my quinoa, picked it out, and continued eating like nothing happened. God I love living with dogs.
Caroline, that is such a cute story, ahah! Glad to hear it didn’t put you off to pasta salad since then.
My first memory ever (I think) is actually a food memory: When I was probably about two or so we lived in an apartment building with a courtyard and the old woman across from us would bag up what I believe were Froot Loops and send them into our apartment via a clothesline!
I may not actually remember this – it could be tempered with later stories from my parents, but I like to think of my first memory of a food memory anyway
You never cease to amaze me, Broc Hut
Your meals are SOOOO photogenic, I just can’t compare….
I’d have to agree with you about wanting fall to come. *I try my best to shop in season (ahem, canned pumpkin year round)*, however I was super in the mood for acorn, kabocha and spaghetti squash that I waddle over to my lovely, Whole Foods to see if they were yet on the shelf. And they were– All the squashes! Super excited. I made myself some mexican spaghetti squash for dinner tonight. Not that I don’t love summer produce, however I have a true passion for winter squash and pumpkin
Your acorn squash looks aMazing…. do post recipe.
I think my earliest food memory is how much I loved honey buns. Man those were good!
Bahaha my brother totally would have covered for me
We were always an alliance! We probably would have made another batch at 3 am or something, hoping our parents wouldn’t notice. Oh kids. That squash is SO FALL!! Too bad it’s 9000 degrees this week!
Earliest food memory, probabaly when I was like 7 years ols, sitting at my kitchen table on a Sunday afternoon with a 2 pint of milk in my hand puring it generously over my mashed potatoes, which i had left till last on my plate as it was my fave part. Adding butter, peas and gravy mashing it all up together and being in heaven.
That pasta story is soo funny and cute.
ha
fi
xxxx
hahahhaha that pasta salad story is awesome. Isn’t it funny how kids think they can cover things up
. My earliest memory- when my dad was in charge of our dinners. It was one of three things: grilled cheese, spaghetti or popeyes haha. Oww I cannot wait for stuffed squash. Totally picking one up this week
I don’t have any early food memories… but food event.. like new year celebration in china. we all get together and spend a week or so, eating, chatting, playing and watching TV.
fall is sooo close and pumpkin is the only thing that I’m looking forward.
i call the squash meal a ‘Green Gobbling Squash Monster” .. i made one last night but mashed the squash in. so yummy huh! i think i’ll have it for dinner again tonight <3
i cant wait til my other stevia is done.. i wanna try this chocolate one ASAP!!!
Caroline, your food always looks so good. And that is an adorable plate!
I think my earliest food memory was the huge family gatherings (easy 30 or more people) at my grandma’s cottage. Everybody brough a dish to share that went on the table inside, while the party was outside on the dock, in the water, on a boat and in the shade. If we wanted to eat, we went inside to get our goodies and took it back out to eat. I remember my aunt’s strawberry shortcake Jell-O, my other aunt’s potato salad and I know there were a billion other things. But the two things that stick in my mind the most: Grandma always gave me a big bowl of Cool Whip to eat, just by itself and everytime I smell a pickle, I’m transported back to those family gatherings as there was always a big tray with pickles!
I’m excited about the fall foods coming out, too! I didn’t do alot with pumpkin last year, but this year I’m looking to change that.
I should have the same name for my blog…I eat broccoli like it’s going out of style! Good to “meet” you!