Last week I received a beautiful, overflowing box of fresh organic produce from my CSA at Devlin Farms in College Grove. Eggplant, tomatoes, garlic kale, potatoes, etc... I began planning in my head what would come of this treasure box as my 2 year old son calls it. Eggplant Parm! Of course, a good Italian girl always knows how to make that and jumps at the opportunity to do so with fresh ingredients. Flashback, in 4th grade we had an international fair of some sort at my school and I made Eggplant Parmesean for my country's dish, nerd, even then... :)
The next exciting idea I felt was Ratatouille! Of course! The previous week I was going to make a psuedo version since I did not have eggplant but lots of zucchini and squash but did not, not sure what happened... A new found respect for French cuisine since taking the class at the Viking University in Franklin last month, that and the 2 year old has watched the cartoon movie Ratatouille many times since renting it from the library. Side note: the movie never includes the making of the traditional French cuisine made from summer vegetables and thyme.
Flash forward to the last 96 (in the Marines, as I have become so accustom as a military wife, a 96 is basically your long weekend, time off or 96 hours...) and I feel the reality of well, reality. The 2 year old is in a power struggle with mom as he is missing dad during this long training period. The 1 year old has finally broken a tooth through the gums and is letting me know it through fits, diarrhea/diaper rash and midnight waking...
The reality of a full time mom and military wife with dreams of culinary nutrition? I am the captain of a ship I cannot turn and sometimes I have to ride the tide. Those beautiful eggplant, heirloom tomato, zucchini, squash, onion and garlic are sitting on the counter at the Creekstone Test Kitchen waiting for me. I hope they do not rot before I return this week as I intend to fulfill my culinary goal for the week.
Yes, the days will go on. Yes, the boys are beautiful and basically healthy. And Yes, I am a lucky gal and have wonderful support and resources. Yet, I don't mind humbly and frustratingly admit that this week in training I was overcome by the fatigue and gave in where I would rather have fight against.
We love, for what else do we have!? I love this life and the exciting journey I am taking and if I hit a few snags a long the way, so be it. That is life, that is real food, that is the point.
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