Through new eyes

My not-sister went back to Texas today, and while I am sad she's gone, having her here even only for a few days was so worth it. She did find it a bit on the cold side (Ha!) but she still thought being able to hit up the markets was worth it! We got in some pretty amazing cooking, some fantastic restaurants - and my husband was thrilled to have someone he could eat  real cheese with! - plus got to just spend time with her and visit. Alright, there was a Little bit of drinking involved, but she started it (by bringing up  beautiful bottle of a mead/merlot from a place not far from where she lives) and I'm sticking with that story.


Mimolette Cheese

I think that one of the things I enjoyed the most was taking her around and showing her places we enjoy and getting that sense of New again. It is so easy to start taking for granted what we have ready access too, but showing it off can get you excited about it all over again. Being able to go to not one but two different, all year markets that can provide local fare, in season (if wild mushrooms are your thing, they are starting to show up already!) and some not so in season products to create just about anything you want is not something she gets to do at home. When I think about how she lives in Central Texas, but she is constantly telling me about how horrible the produce she has access to it, I'm actually a little humbled.So, we cooked! For her birthday dinner, we had a bone-in roast beef, with roasted root vegetables and butternut squash and steamed green beans followed by the parsnip cake with a cream cheese frosting, which she and I have decided really could simply be eaten of a spoon without any problems.

 



 The next day, since I was working, had my hubby and not-sister headed back to the market (as I had to work) to pick up stuff for dinner for Sunday: grilled pork chops with mashed sweet potatoes and pan seared brussel sprouts with a honey mustard sauce. They also got themselves some $78/kilo French cheese, just for fun! Both of them maintain that is was worth it, even though it looks like lava rock before it's cut from the round.

There are days when I look at what we eat and where we shop and to be very honest, I actually feel lucky that I eat the way I do, because I am. Being able to show it to someone like my not-sister who doesn't have any food intollerances and have her ask us for recipes makes me happy, but also reassured. In part because we could introduce her to something new, but also because that just means it tastes good and I'm not simply trying to fool myself.

So, while I'm sad that she's gone home, I'm already on the lookout for new stuff and places to show her the next time she's up, an grateful that I can.