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I am sure at some point in my life I have had sit-down family meals with my family. My family, who I love and who have many good qualities, is a shake, bake, things-in-a-box kind of crew. Food was about convenience, quickness and filling our bellies; honestly, I don't remember many mealtimes that weren't in front of the television, or in the car. A family meal was something saved for holidays. My boyfriend's father, though, is a cook. We sit down and there are cloth napkins and gourmet foods made from stock
that's been simmered all day Saturday and everyone's around the table. Which is wonderful, because E.'s family is so great.
But the takeaway here is the food. Homemade, served on good dishes, with drinks
in real glasses. The focus is enjoying a meal that doesn't come in containers,
or from boxes, and we eat slowly and it is delicious and I am amazed by that.
This is something most people already know, I imagine, but an epiphany for me.
Hey, food can be enjoyed, and should be, and every day. It is a little ridiculous, how like
a beautiful miracle it is to figure that out. --Anne 3 CommentsLeave a comment |
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This is what I consider the transformative power of food. Delicious food is one (great) thing. But as a way to bring people together, slow down, and create a moment of beauty and communion in the everyday slog of life -- that is food at its best.
I agree that food should be more than just "eating". My mom was an absolutely horrible cook. And, she resented feeding us. So she would cook one batch of something, and feed it to us NEARLY EVERY NIGHT FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH. I am so not kidding. (Mom - you missed the point of "once-a-month" cooking)
Even still, not that they're both retired, they serve us on PAPER PLATES when we go to their house. (WHAT she serves is an entirely different matter...she served my husband "hot dog salad" (green salad with a random assortment of ingredients, topped with sliced hot dogs ("for protein!") last time we got together. I am so not making this up).
She uses the paper plates because she hates cleaning. (Even though I do most of the cleaning - and now, the cooking - when we visit). It makes me feel unworthy and unloved.
Maybe this is why I have 3 sets of china and don't ever hesitate to break them out and serve my guests (or family) on them. We use my Christmas china for breakfast all December long, and my kids love it. They look forward to the season and getting to use the special china every day.
I guess I'm just saying that hospitality and food goes so far beyond just the food served. I've felt amazingly loved by take-out that a friend warmed up, served on nice plates, and accompanied by whatever-wine-was-lurking-in-the-fridge. The food was fine, and filled my belly, but it was the relationship (dare I say "communion"?) behind it that made it a true meal.
Leah, your description of your mom made me laugh out loud! And I couldn't agree more.