I love vegetables.
I was browsing through the hot items on sale in this week’s Safeway ads, and bright, ruby red radishes caught my eye. It brought to mind the first time I had them at a big family get-together, which is a rare event nowadays. My aunt made a simple salad of greens that were still stuck to their stems, homemade vinaigrette, and several plump radishes. When I crunched into one, I found it mild in flavor yet surprisingly spicy. I haven’t had them since then, and I couldn’t resist buying some when I saw the bundles of fresh radishes nestled in the produce section.
I have many sweet memories of home and childhood attached to the smell, taste and texture of vegetables. Away from home for college, I miss tucking in to my mom and my aunt’s cooking. Bitter melon sautéed with eggs; crunchy cucumbers topped with bits of hot, salty pork; crispy red lettuce leafs wrapped around rice noodles and boiled shrimp; and sweet cabbage with tender bamboo shoots, mushrooms, baby corn, and chewy bean curd are only a few delicious dishes that we love and share. I especially crave my mom’s noodle soups. My favorite noodle soup is tangy from tomatoes and lime and I eat it with plenty of fresh mint and crispy bean sprouts. My mom passed on to me this love of noodles as well as spicy food. I have followed in her footsteps since middle school in generously sprinkling into every bowl slivers of the red chili peppers that come from my grandma’s garden.
I love vegetables, but not just because I enjoy eating them. They represent dinners at home with family. They are a comfort whenever I feel nostalgic for simpler times without the hectic schedule of college.
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I can only wish that I liked vegetables as much as you do. Somehow, even though my parents have always given me veggies and encouraged me to try them, I've always been very picky when it comes to which ones I'll eat. I know that I should eat more vegetables because they are healthy, but I just don't enjoy eating them. I can, however relate to your idea that certain foods can remind you of home and family.
ReplyDeleteJackie Attiyeh
Hi Jenny!
ReplyDeleteWow, I thought I really liked vegetables, but after reading your blog I can’t compare. It wasn’t until middle school that I started to find vegetables appetizing, instead of pushing them off to the side of my plate. Even till now, there are only a certain few vegetables that I really enjoy eating, and the others I just leave alone and will not touch. Celery, carrots, and beets are the main vegetables that I have to pick off or leave alone when on my plate. I don’t know why, but they just don’t taste that great to me. One of my science teachers once told me that as you get older, your taste buds mature and you are then able to accept more bitter and unfamiliar tastes. If that’s the case, I guess I have a lot of taste maturing to go. You made me really hungry describing all those vegetable dishes. You should bring them into class one day.