Saving Lives One Meal at a Time
I am a great admirer of the kitchen skills of my friends. So many seem to posess a magic that escapes me.
In my kitchen, in my pots and pans, most recipes never turn out quite right. I get close, but, whether due to my trademark short attention span or a tendency to plunge headlong in to a recipe I have neither all the necessary ingredients for nor the time or talent to produce, I just don't seem to have it in me to whip up fluffy pastry crusts or paper thin crepes or elaborate meals of any kind. Not without a lot of drama, anyway.
For the most part, this doesn't bother me. I'd rather sit down and write anyway. In my perfect world, food would appear on my plate and dishes would wash themselves. But every once in a while, it would be nice to walk into the kitchen and stir up something complex and delicous and wonderful. Calorie free, of course.
Tonight, after a bone-chilling four hours being buffeted by the cold wind at my daughter's track meet, I came home knowing the handiwork of a friend was waiting in the refrigerator. My friend Piper makes the most amazing Thai food and sells it to raise money for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. She calls it "Saving Lives One Meal at a Time." For $10, she delivers two servings of green curry chicken, red shrimp curry or Tom Kha Soup. Spicy, filling and absolutely delicious over rice, each is the perfect meal for a busy woman with a busy family. I try to keep some in the freezer for days exactly like today.
People like to say anyone can cook. I nod and play along, but I'm not sure that's true. But, what I do believe is that if we have a friend who can cook, and can do good work at the same time, we are doubly fortunate.
If you want more information about Piper's life-saving curry, drop me a line. I'd be happy to put you in touch with her.
For more about the healing art of cooking, read Dominique Browning's essay in Eating Well magazine.