This week started with me packing and heading to my mom and brothers house. As some of you reading this know, my mother has Alzheimer’s and as she gets worse, they are both needed support in the daily living and help with a transition that makes sense for both of them. (My brother has Down’s Syndrome)
It’s a complicated time that is requiring a lot of juggling on my part.
One of the things that they both need a lot of help with is grocery shopping and meal preparation. I’m trying to make things for them that will store in the refrigerator and are easy to microwave. This week I made them a hearty minestrone soup with beef, a pot of chili to have with some cornbread, and a Mexican casserole.
The other thing about this week that I loved is that I cooked 6 of the 7 days. I think back to the weeks we spent in the Dominican Republic and how much we ate out. I loved the food we ate, but ultimately I felt as if I was left depleted.
It’s not just that it was restaurant food and thought it tend to be relatively gluten free, it isn’t 100% gluten free, it’s also that the variety, the love, the intentioned nourishment was lacking. Being here now, cooking as much as I am… it makes me emotional with gratitude over it.
January 4, 2016 – Downey, Ca, Tropicana Restaurant – Cuban food. This is a must for me every time I visit them. At least once we have to head out and have my favorite dish, Vaca Frita con Morros y Maduros. My mother and I met up with family friends, Maddie, Magdie and their friend, Helen. It was a lot of fun hanging out with these women. Nourishing on many levels.
January 5, 2016 – Whittier, Ca, Nena’s house – Meatloaf and rice with a side salad
January 6, 2016 – Whittier, Ca, Nena’s house – Green chili and cheese tamales with guacamole
January 7, 2016 – Idyllwild Cabin – Jasmine Rice with a Wild Mushroom Ragu
January 8, 2016 – Idyllwild Cabin – Enchilada Casserole with a Jicama Avocado Salad and my chocolate chip cookies for dessert
January 9, 2016 – Idyllwild Cabin – Left overs with a side salad
January 10, 2016 – Idyllwild Cabin – Spaghetti, red sauce with fresh mozzarella
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