Stories of our identity, our who we are, can be told in so many ways.
Take Anton Ego, the fictional food critic from Ratatouille, who inspires fear in all restaurateurs.
But when he eats a meal that reminds him of home — the lovingly-prepared, home-cooked, comfort food ratatouille (which is prepared by ‘Little Chef' AND Colette) — Anton's ego transforms; (due to my lack of technological know-how (and not wanting to violate copy rights), clicking on the photo won't get you to the clip, but when you click on transforms — you'll get there OR you can just conjure up the memory of the clip:)).
What foods hold sway over you? Remind you of who you are?
While growing up, my friend Lizzie Christensen's mother baked chocolate chip cookies. Not surprisingly, Lizzie now bakes cookies for and with her two darling daughters. Lizzie shares the following:
When I was in elementary school my mom started teaching piano lessons every Tuesday afternoon. Knowing that she would be unavailable and that there would be seven hungry children in the house during those lessons, she would have warm chocolate chip cookies waiting for us when we got home from school. Sometimes we could tell there was something not quite right about the cookies and it became a family joke to guess which ingredient mom had left out in her haste to get them all made. Of course we ate them, no matter what the flaw.
Tuesday became cookie day and ever since then chocolate chip cookies have meant home to me. When I’m feeling blue they’re my favorite treat; when I’m trying to diet they’re the first thing I crave; when I’m plagued with morning sickness and can’t stomach anything sweet I actually miss the comfort they bring and almost want to eat them anyway. I love knowing that the sweet feeling of home is just about 20 minutes and a few ingredients away.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
Directions:
PREHEAT oven to 375° F.
COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.
BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
What recipes/foods are home to you? Do you ever make them? If you don't, why or why not?
Would you like to tell your recipe story?
Related posts:
NY Times: This is Your Life (and How You Tell It)
Tell Your Soundtrack Story: Of Childhood and Christmas
Book Club: Elizabeth Crook’s The Night Journal