roots

I have a saying

words of wisdom

if you will

that I claim ownership of

an observation from

living

life

You cannot travel far from the

way you were 

raised

Oh

I know there are times

you  may want to break free of it

but 

in the end

somehow

you always 

return 

home.

Even where food is concerned.

Comfort foods.

The stuff that mom always

made

closely linked to one's

nationality

As a kid 

whenever I was asked this question

a sense of pride bubbled

as I recited

English, Irish, German, and Scottish.

And today

the Irish is coming out in me

along with green beer

and a bit of a brogue

my taste buds turn to

Jiggs dinners

Reuben sandwiches

and a pot of Irish Stew

with

potato biscuits

browning nicely

like the pot o' gold

at the end

of the rainbow

a special dish like this

is deserving of

a fancy

bowl

I can look at that bowl

and feel a wee bit of

departure from my roots

for

rather than beef there is

seitan and beans

a plant-based stew

made hearty and flavorful with

a good stout beer

which poured a plenty

in the days of ol'

back at the homestead

served alongside

corn on the cob?

that I couldn't pass up

when I spotted it at Costco

and 

for some strange reason

sounded like the perfect

accompaniment

to the stew

and then it hit me

the story of my birth

a hot August day

a day

that my mom

had her mom

making food to satisfy an

odd and unusual

craving 

Can you guess what it was?

Stew with Corn on the Cob

and no

I am not making this up!

The sad ending to this little tale...

mom went into labor

and was rushed to

the hospital

without

enjoying the wondrous meal

prepared for her.

But ah...

the story remains

it grows and transforms

and makes one wonder...

did the craving come from the 

mother

or the

babe?

This is the stuff

Irish folktale...

legends

are made of.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Now

go make some

mom food.

love ya

 mamai!

(that's Gaelic for mommy)

xo