Surround Yourself with Love

I grew up celebrating my birthdays with my mom, siblings, uncle and his family. My siblings and I were allowed to decorate the family room with as many balloons and streamers and confetti as we wanted for each other; we even used wrapping paper to spell out our names on the walls. There was always a small corner reserved for gifts in which my mom would spoil us with toys and clothes and eventually nail polishes and accessories. It was a tradition that one week before our birthdays to go to the grocery store with our mom to pick out our cake! My mom did everything in her power to make this day just about us, to make us feel special and loved in everyday, surrounded by the people who love us. I will always be grateful for these moments and memories (even though my mom might have overdone it a bit). But, in retrospect, I wouldn't do anything different for my children.

These days, my mom works her tail off at work and isn't able to throw these family dinners as frequently. But I understand that she has the same motives to her actions. I appreciate all she does for me and how selflessly she behaves. So even though she is exhausted after work, she offered to cook me what I wished on my birthday!

For the last couple of years, I have requested the same thing: Shrimp Souvlakia on pita with tzatziki and homemade french fries. We fast from meat for 40 days before Christmas, so that explains the shrimp part. The combination is just delicious and my moms seasons and broils the shrimp perfectly (as she does everything else she cooks!) The tzatziki mixed with ketchup (traditional fast food staple in Greece) is always the perfect condiment! And of course, homemade french fries are tough to beat!

As my "cake" I picked up a variety of big cupcakes from Fresh Market down the street. Their cupcakes are always fresh and yummy! It's always hard to pick just one flavor so I got one of each :)

cupCAKE! from The Fresh Market

Although the food was amazing and the gifts more than plenty, my favorite part of the evening was, once again, being surrounded by those who love me. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect birthday evening :) Happy 24th to me!

My Siblings and (scruffy) Boyfriend!

PERSONAL: Condiments and Pairings

I never noticed until recent months how much I like to combine different condiments, or add flavors to normal foods.

This 'enlightenment' came about as I started dating my boyfriend. His mother is a fabulous cook and very much an amazing mother. Therefore, he never really went out to restaurants and such. He had/has the pleasure of home cooking. Therefore, he never needed many condiment concoctions, or wasn't aware of some different flavor combinations.

I, on the other hand, am quite different. I LOVE going out to dinner and experiencing new places (::ahem:: note theme of blog) and therefore have tried some weird things. In addition, my mother started working while I was in high school, and therefore, whenever she got home late, and I didn't feel like cooking, eating out was the option.

Nonetheless, when I started dating my beau, there were a lot of huhs? For example, we went to the diner and I suggested he have a Pizza Burger. Apparently, he wasn't aware of such a combination! I highly recommended it... he loved it! Another time, we went to a sports bar and I ordered us crab dip fries... again, he questioned it, but loved it! On another occasion, my mom had made gemista (stuffed peppers, grape leaves, tomatoes, potatoes and squash) and I urged him to come over and try them. However, I recommended that he try them with sour cream. Once again, a success!! In retrospect, I am very proud of him for trying everything, and hope he's not having culture shock to this new world of food that is gushing out of me and into his life.

However, it makes me wonder. Is it bad that we continuously are combining foods with other foods to combine flavor? Do we take for granted the simple but intricate flavors of each individual food? Or is it simply culinary genius that everyone needs to be exposed to and to continue to invent?

All in favor of culinary genius say I... I!!!!

On that note, I note my favorite combinations : Tzatziki and Ketchup, & Feta and Watermelon. Yes... that is feta with watermelon. Don't bash it until you try it!!!

Your Tasty Bud