Mother’s Day Extraordinaire

My girls and me

Two daughters, one son-in-law, and three grandsons—I reveled in family this Mother’s Day. Megan arrived last night with her two boys in time for hamburgers and the overnight salad I had stashed in the fridge. We talked, drank wine, and stayed up later than I meant too. I loved it. This morning, lazy. Christian fixed  big breakfast, and it was 11:30 before we got up from the table.

A hurried trip to the nursery, but we pretty much knew what we wanted—hydrangeas to put under my office window. They’re gorgeous, though not my favorite plans. I catered to my urge for wildflowers by buying one pot of coreopsis—no place in the back yard gets enough sun for that delightful, cheery plant except the deck. But from my desk, where I spend so much of my time, I have a clear vision of the deck. The coreopsis will join Christian’s marvelous bougainvillea, which show signs of being as bountiful this year as it was last. I bought some herbs, especially lemon oregano to discourage mosquitoes. On my shopping list this week: a big jug of cheap blue mouthwash, Epsom salts, and cheap beer to make what is supposed to be a guaranteed effective non-toxic spray to protect an area from mosquitoes.

Two o’clock found us at Joe T.’s for a late lunch/early supper. We didn’t sit on the patio because of the heat, but inside is always so noisy I have trouble with ordinary conversation. Christian’s family joined us so we were a party of fourteen, and our server turned out to be a sorority sister of Megan’s so it was old home week. As always we ate too much, and tonight, past eight o’clock, none of us are interested in food.

My grandsons, wishing me Happy Mothers Day

Megan and the boys left almost as soon as we got home from Joe T.’s and they are now safely back in Austin. We’re back into our routine, but I’ll treasure the memories of an almost-perfect day for a long time.

With a fond memory of my mother, who taught me to laugh, look on the bright side, and love creating in the kitchen. Some thirty years later, I still wish I had her on speed dial. I know her grandchildren miss her and I would so love to have her know her great-grandchildren.

Hope all the mothers, all who nurture and care for any of God’s creatures, had a wonderful day. Bask in the love, folks. We need each other these days.

Mostly about food

No blog last night because at eleven o’clock I found myself making an overnight salad. No, not a congealed salad nor what you think of as a layered salad—remember those, with layers of lettuce, peas, cheese, tomatoes, and so on, and a top layer of mayo that you let sit overnight? This is a lettuce salad with a vinaigrette dressing—you put the vinaigrette in the bottom of a 9x13 glass dish, with avocadoes, stir the whole thing; then, without stirring, layer lettuce on top, and finish it off with Parmesan. Cover with clear plastic wrap and then foil, let it sit overnight, and stir just before serving. Delicious. Got raves at the dinner table tonight.

But last night, as I chopped garlic and scallions, washed lettuce, and so on, a blog was the farthest thing from my mind. Yes, with some trepidation I used romaine, but I washed it thoroughly using a trick my mom taught me—dousing it in salt water, then rinsing thoroughly and drying. Couldn’t use the wonderful soft lettuce from my garden because this salad needs something with crunch.

Blatant cookbook promotion: the recipe will be in my new cookbook, available next fall. With a thank you to my neighbor Amy Brown who first served it to me.

Now that I’m working seriously on “Gourmet on a Hot Plate,” I’m having fun rediscovering recipes. Made tuna-stuffed zucchini for my supper last night and had the leftover tuna stuffing for lunch today. One day this past week I intended to make an avocado and cucumber salad for Jordan and me—turned out the avocadoes were too hard (they ended up in tonight’s salad). But a salad of cuke and tomatoes and scallions, dressed with lemon and lime juice, is nothing to sneer at.

Megan and her boys arrived just in time for happy hour before supper tonight, a quick visit for Mothers’ Day, but I don’t mind quick because she and her whole family were here for a long weekend two weeks ago. Blessed to spend so much time with them. Even after two weeks we have lots to catch up on—a new pair of shoes I want her to see, an upright walker I want her to look at, exciting new developments in her career and in the growth of one of her sons. Life is full and wonderful.

Right now, after a great supper of hamburgers and salad, Megan and Jordan are off to say hello to a school chum of Jordan’s. I, who always want to be included, begged off. I think the main reason is that I fear they’ll stay longer than I would want to, in spite of their protests. And truth be told, I’m reading a book that I really enjoy.

So now I’m off to brush my teeth, get a glass of wine, and settle down with my book. Happy Mothers’ Day to all out there—there are all kinds of mothering, and the gratitude of the day should go to many more than actual mothers. Then again, I think there should be a Children’s Day, honoring all the richness children have brought to our lives. I know they have mine. Of the many hats I’ve worn in life, I have always said being a mother was the most important and the most rewarding.