Food brings people together

Karen over at Nothing But Knit has posted another quiz! I always love doing these and seeing what people share. Check out Karen’s blog and play along!

• What is your favorite food? Oh um wow, it is so hard! I think I’ll have to say pastina. It’s basically the perfect comfort food. You take pastina (those little star pastas you sometimes see in soups), cook it in just a little bit of water so that you don’t have to strain it, and then while it’s still hot mix in butter, egg, and Parmesan cheese to make like a creamy, savory porridge. Serve immediately with lots of fresh ground black pepper – yumm it’s so delicious and perfect for a bad day, a good day, or just when you want to feel a little fancy and indulgent.
• Do you have a favorite dessert that you can’t pass up? I actually don’t like desserts as much! I definitely have sweet tooth but am much more a candy person than a baked goods person. I guess if I had to choose I would say lemon bars – I love the tangy, creamy custard and the soft and buttery bottom!
• If you were on a deserted island and could have only one food besides the fish and coconuts on the island what would it be? Definitely some good Italian bread since it can go with anything and make a small island meal feel like it was bigger!
• What is the best meal you’ve ever eaten? Ok, so my first year out of college I was in St Paul MN for some work training. I was there with a group of about 12 other people in my training group, and this was the second time we had been together, the first time they were all in Hartford. I had gotten really close with one of the other people in the group, and we bonded over a love of food and theater and just being people who got each other. We totally lived it up in St Paul, including walking like 2 miles each way for this pizza in a restaurant that had been on the Food Network. Anyway, one night we decided to go to this slightly fancy farm to table place, and omg the food there was amazing. It was a 3 course meal – savory pumpkin crepes, some sort of delicious gnocci, and stewed pears with an anise cracker for dessert. We each had 2 drinks and ended up paying like $100 dollars each but it was so so worth it. On top of the food it was more just like connecting with someone who totally got it, and this was one of the first nights I felt like an adult, like yeah, this is what people do! We were also with another friend from the program, but he did not get it as much and I remember we were shocked that he didn’t like potatoes. The fact that he got like one thing and was like “yeah, this is fine” just strengthened my friend and I’s connection around how good food makes such a difference and can bring you together.
• Is there a food you wish you could make? Not really, I’m a pretty fearless chef and I don’t mind trying new and even complex meals. I wish I could recreate my grandma’s sauce recipe though! And put it in my aunt’s lasagna recipe. I can make sauce and lasagna but just like those exact flavors and exact feelings.

Ok, now I’m really hungry and ready for breakfast! Here’s a few more pictures of food I’ve made recently, because I love to cook! A lot of my variety comes from the fact that I’ve been getting a Hello Fresh box basically every week since March.