Eating is among life’s greatest pleasures, although I was very late to that party. I grew up in a house filled with tension and meals were no different. I could barely eat; my stomach was in knots. My mother was no Julia Childs, more like a Chef Boyardee type. Straight out of the box.
Fresh herbs? Spices? Farm to table? What were those things? My family grew botanical plants and tropical flowers and even fruit trees. No vegetable garden. For the most part, vegetables at dinner were out of a can. In FLORIDA??!!
Needless to say, cooking did not come easily to me. My philosophy was basically ‘If you can read, you can cook.’ This was long before Food Network and Rachel Ray. Yes, Julia was a big hit on public television but her recipes were way out of my league. What compelled me about her was the huge amount of wine she was pouring into those sauces and her hearty laugh.
Marriage and kids came along so popcorn would no longer suffice for dinner. I had a few standards, thanks to The Joy of Cooking, one of the best wedding gifts I ever received. While my New England friends were lapping up The New York Times Cookbook, I was struggling to make sense of Joy. My philosophy was inadequate, to say the least.
Fortunately, I managed to marry men who were undemanding. They were pretty handy in the kitchen, although not so much around the house. In fact, Kevin did all the dinners when he started working from home.
My kids were pretty picky eaters. When they were really small, they didn’t like the meals we ate so they grazed. Platters, we called them. Stone wheat crackers, cheese, grapes, carrots and raw broccoli (little trees, according to them).
When I lost my mate, life got crazy out of control. Working long hours, driving the kids to soccer and every other sport and event. Afternoons were hectic and sitting down for a home cooked meal was rare. Yes, I know the family should eat dinner together but it didn’t happen.
Instead we frequented the drive-thrus at various fast food establishments and held the record in Columbia, Maryland for the most pizza takeout orders from Domino’s. I am not proud of these facts and I count it as one of my greatest shortcomings as a parent. However, my children love me anyway and despite my poor example, they are great cooks and ridiculously healthy eaters.
In retirement, I have seen the light. Finally. I enjoy cooking more than I ever have, although it’s still not a nightly activity. I still like my happy hours and apps. But, living in Florida makes it possible to go to farmers’ markets every week of the year and pick up fresh fruit, vegetables and seafood. I’ve gotten some fantastic recipes using fresh produce from the Florida Department of Agriculture website, Fresh from Florida.
I have two absolute favorites: Steak in a Bowl and Ambrosia. Both are fast and easy….my requisites. Here they are.
Steak in a Bowl. Layer the following ingredients: black beans, cooked fresh corn, diced tomatoes, fresh cilantro. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the layers, then add a little bit of hot sauce. Top with sliced, grilled steak or substitute with fish, chicken or nothing at all. It’s all good.
Ambrosia. Peel and cut four fresh oranges into chunks, add 1/4 cup of shredded coconut, dice one large apple, 1 small can of crushed pineapple, drained, and sliced strawberries. Toss and refrigerate for an hour or more. This can be a side dish or dessert for any meal. No yogurt or whipped cream. Just fresh fruit for full flavor.
My kids are probably thinking….’You couldn’t have done this 20 years ago??!!’
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