I’m an unabashed foodie- that is a confession I am really happy to make.  I love to smell it, see it, make it, buy it, eat it, share it.  Food is one of life’s pleasures, and living in New York makes an incredible variety easily accesible.  Each neighborhood features ethnic grocery stores or restaurants just waiting to be discovered.   Indian spices, freshly-made Mexican tortillas, seaweed wraps for sushi, Dutch chocolate sprinkles…you name it, I can probably find it.  Lucky me! When I travel  (one of my favorite things to do), I always try to taste and also bring home some food item that is native to the area.  Best souvenir in the world.

Sharing a meal is one of my favorite passtimes.  Whether it’s lunch at MOMA with the Hunter girls, dinner at the local restaurants where my husband and I are regulars, or a hugehome-made brunch during the holidays on one of the now rare mornings that my whole family is together in one place; this is the stuff new memories are made of.  Last-minute, thrown-together barbecues for 60 of our closest friends that had no plans for Labor Day, Passover meals at mom’s and quiet, wind-swept snacks during a hike on the tops of mountains with my kids; all warm experiences that involve food and leave an idelible mark on my memory.

I have already mentioned in a previous post that I cook for therapy.  I also find the smell of some foods bring me happiness.  Specifically,the smell of  food with a nostalgic connection is a great way to put a smile on my face.  The vent outside the bagel store on 108^th street in Forest Hills near the apartments where I was raised offers whiffs of the oniony, bready delight that surrounded our street games of Ringolevio.   Colombian coffee brewing in my uncle’s kitchen smells like warm Summer mornings.  Pancakes on the stovetop smell like Oma’s Sunday visits. Big, juicy burgers can evoke the first meal I had after giving birth to my twins.  Sometimes even certain sounds related to food, such as the Mr. Softee ice cream truck song can bring fun to a day.  I feel almost a bit of shame singing the praises of food when there is such an obesity crisis happening all over the country.  But eating well does not, in my world, mean overeating or eating badly.  In fact, eating well means eating healthy in both quality and quantity.

Below I put a link to some of my fav recipes.  Happy 4^th of July! Eat something yummy and enjoy your celebration…

http://pinterest.com/mobility61/favorite-recipes/