Miguelina

Home Food

This post is for my neighbor Karen, who tagged me for this meme, which was started by a local company (makers of the best marshmallows in the universe) to publicize a good cause. I also dedicate it to Neil, because he clearly needs help ordering at his neighborhood Dominican diner.

I'm pregnant, so when I was asked to tell you about the foods that remind me of home I couldn't stop at one meal. Nooo, I have to tell you about a what a perfectly comfort food DAY would look for me. Because this baby is hungry.

BREAKFAST

Pan de agua (no need to toast it) with butter and honey. Chase it down with a glass of morir soñando (literally: To die dreaming. What a way to start your day!)

MID-MORNING

Cafecito de greca - I need my coffee.

LUNCH

Arroz con habichuelas and caramelized plantains. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that this was my childhood lunch 80% of the time. We'd usually have some leftover Dominican cake for dessert. (So sweet!) More cafecito.

AFTERNOON SNACK

Batido de lechoza with some Yaniqueues.

DINNER

Mangù with my mom's onion and tomato sofrito on top. Dessert would be dulce frio.

Woah. That's a lot of food for one day. I guess it's a good thing I live in a place where the produce guys don't know what a ripe plantains is. (No, it's not a banana.)

Weekly Roundup

This totally made my day, even if my husband The Austrian, thinks it's "silly":

I love the fact that the genius that is The Sound of Music resonates with the Belgians too. We're not the only ones who love a campy musical with catchy tunes.

I'm tired after an emotional week, but in case you're curious this week I wrote about foundation and the economy, Marilyn Monroe's beauty routine, and rain boots.

Life may be harsh, but I like to keep my work nice and fluffy. Have a fabulous weekend!

Fragile

It doesn't make sense.

The loss of a child never makes sense, even if that baby isn't your own.

I know that being a parent is full of risks - that despite all the joy it brings, you never get to relax. I know that a mother's heart gets broken many times. Your heart becomes stronger and more fragile all at once. Every time one of my children gets hurt, I hurt. Every disappointment they experience becomes my own. I hold my breath at every OB visit, because I know that life - even the one growing so fiercely in my womb - is precious and fragile and there is only so much we can control.

And that's only my children. There are so many children in the world, so many mothers who are as strong and fragile as I am. Their pain becomes my own too.

This week two beautiful babies passed away. I never met them, but I know they were loved because I read their mother's words. And now they are gone.

It doesn't make sense.

Please, share a thought or a prayer with the families left behind. And if you can, consider donating to the fund Thalon's friends have set up.

honest food

I like to eat. I like food. I like it a lot.

But I like Food. As in real food that is made from edible ingredients - things that will probably spoil eventually and will need to be cooked. Simple ingredients taste best to me.

Don't get me wrong: I'm not a nutrition expert or a strict health nut. I can eat a Big Mac. I'd rather have almost anything else, but I don't think an occasional mass-produced burger will kill me. I can appreciate a Twinkie for what it is - not exactly food, but a food product that is darn tasty in its own way. 

You know what I really like about Twinkies? A Twinkie doesn't claim  to be food, or at least nutritious food. 

(Actually, I don't eat Twinkies. I think they're pretty bland. But I love Mallomars.)

What I think is unforgivable is when fake food pretends to be nutritious. Did you know that the first ingredient in a Strawberry Nutrigrain bar is high fructose corn syrup? It's also the ninth ingredient. This, in a product that calls itself a "nutri" - "grain" bar.

That pisses me off almost as much as those "fruit juices" and "milks" you get in vending machines - have you ever read the labels? Yep, high fructose corn syrup is invariably the second ingredient -- after water.

Why do these food companies even pretend they're selling food? Why not inject corn-derived sweeteners straight into our veins?

It's past the point of ridiculousness.