Friday, November 17, 2006

Bring Your Best Dish...

A friend of mine invited me for Thanksgiving dinner and I offered to bring a dish. I asked her what her preference was - meat/fish entree, dessert, or sides and she said - "I always tell people, bring your best dish." Now there was a dilemma, what is my "best dish?" First of all, you all know I LOVE to cook and since I've been on my weight loss journey I love to cook for others all the things I can't eat myself. But what would I choose as the best representation of Doreen and her love of food? I have to admit this has caused me to pause and think. I love to cook with shrimp, - bite size, delicate succulent pieces of meat drenched in coconut milk, marsala curry, garlic, onions, nutmeg and thyme served with a coconut basmati rice. Yummy! But I know there will be vegans at the dinner - perhaps I should do my eggplant with garlic/tomato wild rice stuffing covered with a parmigiana/asiago cheese topping? Or dainty vanilla cinnamon shortbread cookies (it is impossible to eat just one, they are soooo buttery and melt in your mouth good!)

Well, as you can see, I have alot of thinking to do now. Because, I love my friends and my mission with every bite of food that I prepare is to make the guests feel the love in each bite of the dish. I always want to make food that is so good the body almost feels healed just by ingesting each bite. I know this is a tall order but it is my desire. As individuals we can only touch so many people before we check out of the planet. But I do have many sensual memories of things I've seen, touched, smelled and eaten - memories that last for years. My mom's west indian fish dinners, the Welland canal with seagulls circling and boats docking, my dad's homemade pepper sauce, kettle popcorn at the Exhibition, mom's oven roasted potatoes, (to this day mine are not quite as good). I remember these scents and aromas like it was yesterday and they comfort me today as they did when I was growing up.

I want this Thanksgiving offering to be good, so I will have to think about this some more. I will keep you posted.

d.

4 comments:

HeavenSCent said...

The curry thing sounds good to me. Maybe you should do two dishes one for the meat eaters and one for the vegans. I'm just upset that I can't have any! Crys

Anonymous said...

I agree with crystal, make both dishes. They both sound so wonderful its hard to choose. Make the cookies too but take them on your next trip. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Your fans are waiting, not so patiently.

dede blunt said...

Just to update you, I did go with a butternut squash lasagna and David did some amazing barbequed chicken and both dishes were a hit. The Thanksgiving meal inluded a cranberry galzed turkey breast that was soaked in a white wine brine overnight. I've never had turkey so moist and delicious in my life. Thanks to the Food network for those yummy receipes!