Bye Mardi Gras

Last week was shortest long week ever. 

I was off for Mardi Gras (another benefit of working at a college in South Louisiana). Long four day weekend then only three days then off again for the weekend. 

The last king cake I made for the season 

It was only three working days but it dragged by and it felt like I hadn't had a break in months. I welcomed the weekend. 

But I was happy to have my parents down for a couple of days over the long weekend. We just tooled around town and I showed them some of the Mardi Gras stuff. But did steer clear of most of it. 

I did make them dinner the night they came into town. Spinach pasta w/an artichoke tomato sauce and caramelized onion and chicken meatballs. It was very tasty and they were happy. 

Getting dinner going for my parents 

I found the pasta at Fresh Market and I also bought the tomato sauce as well. I know... Some people frown upon store bought anything, but to me, if it is a great product and you like the company that produces it, why not? And I had just finished a week of making over 100 king cakes so I was looking for all the time saving help I could. 

So much yumminess 

The sauce did need some doctoring up. I cooked up the meatballs and some pancetta pieces and then poured the sauce into the same pan I cooked the pancetta (took the pancetta and meatballs out and put on a paper towels to absorb some of the grease and also wiped out some of the grease from the pan). I added in some artichoke hearts I had in the fridge, and tossed the cooked pasta to the mix and added the meatballs back to the pan. 

All finished. Spinach egg noodle pasta with artichoke and tomato sauce w/caramelized onion and chicken meatballs  

My parents were happy. When I served them the pasta with some garlic bread, I topped the pasta and meatballs with the crunchy pancetta pieces. They got seconds :)

It was also Valentines weekend as well... 

I went out to eat with my parents and my cousin, and then went back to the house. We made some cocktails and watched the Ole Miss basketball game. 

Instead of just flowers for Valentines, I got a garden. I have to say I was a very happy girl. Planted tomatoes, bell peppers, herbs and lettuce. Can't wait to write and tell y'all about how my plants are growing and what recipes I'm using them in. Happy Eating! 

My Valentines gift. A garden!! 

Loved Ones

The smell of sausage fills the air, and I’m instantly transported back 20 plus years to my grandparents’ house.

My alarm clock is the smells and sounds of granddad cooking breakfast. I am stirring awake on the pull out couch in the den, and the creaks and quick pops of the springs let my granddad know I’m waking up. “Morning. Your breakfast will get cold if you stay in bed,” he says to me. I hear the pendulum of the clock ticking and letting me know its 5:30 in the morning. I make the bed, and put away the pull out. Like I was never there. I smell the biscuits coming out of the oven and the eggs are popping in the pan in the sausage grease. I’m sort of awake, but eating away. I hear my brother stirring in the front room; he stayed in bed; more for me.

L: My uncle, grandmomma, granddad, and my dad 1960s. R: My granddad's WW2 service photo 

Like clockwork, my granddad would be up, dressed and making breakfast before 6, starting his day. He always kept a schedule. After he had his breakfast, he would be off to work (he had his own shop as a mechanic). He would be back for lunch, then go back to work then be back for dinner.

I remember the times we visited when I was younger, the days when my granddad didn’t have to go into the shop, he would be outside in the yard. He would either be tending to his garden, make sure the lawn was kept up and that the wood pile was in order. Had to have that woodpile in order and filled. The fist cold snap, there would be a fire roaring. It would feel like the middle of summer in the dead of winter.

My granddad had a major work ethic that lives on in the ones he has left behind. My dad has this strong work ethic that he also instilled in me.

My granddad had a love of food, and taught himself how to cook many things. He actually took over the cooking of meals from my grandmomma since he loved it so much. My grandmomma would still be in the kitchen helping cook and making her yellow cake with chocolate icing.

In the summer, I remember sitting on the floor in their den with different baskets filled with green beans, butter beans and tomatoes that were from the garden. A very distinct smell filled the room, almost like a mixture of damp cool summer night mixed with a little dirt.

My little garden last spring; Grandparents made me love gardening 

I remember helping snapping the ends off the green beans and putting them into a new basket for them to be rinsed off before they were put away (either put in a pot to cook for that nights dinner or to be canned).

Most of my memories that involve my grandparents take place around food. It is my way to remember them and, in my own way, keep their memory alive for me. I can’t eat a bowl of spaghetti without comparing it to my grandmomma Earnest. I can’t eat cantaloupe without thinking of the times I would share lots of cantaloupe pieces with my granddaddy Earnest. They were my mom’s parents.

I can recall watching my mom and grandmomma (my mom’s mom), doing their kitchen dance when preparing meals for the holidays. I always watched from the other side of the counter, so not to be in the way. I was always in awe, and wanted to be where the action was.

Now, I like green beans, but I love the green beans my granddad Little would cook (my dad asked and mastered my granddad’s green beans). The smell of sausage cooking always reminds me of him as well. A yellow cake with chocolate icing reminds me of my grandmomma Little. She always has a cake for after dinner.

It is hard when the time comes to have to say your goodbye’s to loved ones.

I said till next time to my maternal grandparents years ago. But just recently I had to say that again to my granddad Little. It wasn’t totally unexpected, but still sad.

I have a passion for food. I believe its because it is what connects me to my family and passed loved ones. Whenever my family is getting together, we are gathered around the table or in the kitchen talking and goofing off. Laughter and food is always involved.

To me, food has stories and memories tied to them. Every time I’m in the kitchen, I feel connected to my family’s past. It is a way for me to celebrate them daily.

Happy Eating!