fattening up for winter...

Inspired by my dear friend....

One would never know on this exquisitely sunny beachy day in Alameda that Fall has fallen around here. But it has!  We are all experiencing our own version of what that means to us and for everyone its seems to be a real period of self-reflection.  A time where our we are all "losing our leaves" a bit.  

i love that during this time, food seems to bring a new kind of nourishment. i hear a lot more people talking about their comfort foods that come back like old dear friends to cheer us up right at this time! Warm nourishing comfort foods, things that are roasted, baked, kneaded, souped and creamy. Rich, wonderful flavors and colors enter our minds and transfer themselves into our kitchens.  i love that. 

I think we feel this time of year in many aspects of our lives.  Whatever your belief system (or disbelief as the case may be) is, we are coming to time when there are many celebrations that center on bringing light into the darkness that surrounds us. The days get shorter, the plants take on their skeletal shapes,  the animals begin their frenzy to stash whatever they can, to sustain them as the fruits begin to die off, and make seeds for next seasons blooms.  We humans go through that too...all of it! In the past we were more in touch with this time, more honoring of it, even just acknowledging of it.  I just took the family to a Pow Wow where the Native Americans were celebrating. It made me thankful in a  new way of this time of fruitful harvests and the feasts that gather us all together to focus on our abundance and our ability to fatten up in a time when the skeletons are coming out!  

We have had so many visitors to our new home and at this point we do not see an end in sight. The holidays always bring many family and friends to my table. We have a home that has both the space and the perfect locale for people of all sorts to come and stay for a spell.  It seems that a lot of people we know are transitioning in some form or another and their travels seem to land them at our door more often than not.  Although it can be overwhelming at times, it also is allowing us to go though our own reflections without having to even leave our living room. With each visitor comes a new perspective, a new story line, a new chance to help/be helped/set boundaries.  i think that this all could not be happening at a more perfect time.  What is it that will sustain us all through this time of "losing our leaves".  What soups will be made in my kitchen when each new person comes to sit at my table? What light will be shed in these times when the world is feeler darker? How will I fatten up my family when the skeletons are hanging right out on the porches of my community?

Truffles...

Okay so my first topic is inspired by my lunch yesterday.  I'm sure there will be many food inspired entry's, its one of my greatest inspirations.

After visiting with some friends, I realized I needed to make a stop at the Elephant Pharmacy to pick up some essentials for the fam.  Of course that put us at lunch and nap time. Weighing all the options, I decided I would let the little lunch counter across the street from the pharmacy, called Gregoire's Takeout, make our lunch for us, then do my shopping and nap would happen "organically"!  The lunch counter seemed small, quaint and simple...perfect for the moment!  I thought I would grab a quick sandwich and be on my way!  I grabbed a menu at the door and proceeded into a tiny little kitchen.  The smells were wonderful and the staff was joyful.  The menu was seasonal and very French.  It was tailored to the month (October) and my choices were limited, but really choice.  I opted for the quiche (even though of late I have been having really bad luck with quiche, another story), the soup d'jour (pureed mixed vegetable)  and the scalloped potatoes with truffles.  These were the simplest items on the menu and a guarantee for the little lady's enjoyment.  I figured we would have some for lunch and save the rest for sides at dinner (always trying to stretch the meals these days, less prep for me!!!).  The food was outstanding...I mean it!  Not very pricey, great quality, simple but flavorful, perfect textures!  We only dove into the quiche (home run) and the soup and saved the potatoes! We were satisfied and fueled up for our big Elephant outing!

 After continuing on our shopping, and cart jumping extravaganza and buckling into the car for a car nap, which is never ideal but has to be in this crazy day and age of constantly being on the go...we ended up back at home!  After the usual household melee, we settled in for some dinner. Out came the scalloped potatoes with truffles....hmmmmm and mmmmmm!

I don't think I have ever seen the bird (thats what I call my daughter) eat like that before, wolfing them down.  It got me thinking, what will she have to look forward to if her first scalloped potatoes experience involves several fine specifically chosen cheeses aaannddd truffles.... I mean really think about that! Most of the world has not even heard of a truffle (in case you are one of them I have enclosed a link to check it out) much less eaten one, they are rare and special and have a woodsy, earthy, unique flavor and they are supposed to be used very sparingly in any recipe. It seems, however, that I am seeing truffles everywhere, suddenly they are all the rage!  Have they suddenly become less rare? Have the truffles managed to go the way of everything else and become "normal"?  I remember what scalloped potatoes were to me, yummy, really yummy.  Made by my mom from whatever old block of cheese with dried edges was in the fridge, on the fly, with could-possibly-be-sprouting potatoes, all while she was doing 100 other things.....and they were spectacular! 

I just wonder...what does this all mean?  Am i doing a disservice to my child giving her these special tastes and experiences before she even knows how to manage her own potty breaks?  Will her little palette be so broad that she will not have an appreciation for the incredible food that she is able to eat each day?  Will she never know how special and privileged she is to be eating truffles instead of Happy Meals (or porridge or nothing at all) for lunch on a random Tuesday afternoon?  How can i as a parent and someone who cares about her and all of us, knowing how privileged we are, put it into perspective and teach appreciation and humility in the face of this extravagance, while still feeding her truffles for lunch!

this time I am really going to make this happen...

I have attempted blogging before and have not been able to get the flow down.  I am now determined to make this happen.  I feel like I have so much to say and this could be the very forum to say it.  There are so many conversations that I have each day with the people in my life that seem like they could be beneficial to other people that I know (or don't know) and I don't know how to get the word out.  That of course leads me here, to this forum! My hope for this space is that it can lead to an open discussion on many topics that are plaguing our minds and hearts these days.  For me, in my life, motherhood is Queen.  With that comes so many others things, however.  It's not nearly as simple as your usual mothering topics i.e birthing, breast feeding, parenting advice, to eat or not to eat, to sleep or not to sleep.  No way! Over simplified!  What about politics?! What about finances?! What about relationships with other adults?! What about sex and all that that entails?!  What about independence and the loss of ones own self? What about gaining new parts of yourself and having to get to know who you are again and again? What about all that?  These questions and so much more are what I am here to investigate.  I hope you can sign on to help