When people in the Northwest talk about the incessant rain, I look
out my window and curse the blue sky. More sun in California. I long for wet winters in Oregon and the afternoons I spent years ago in my
studio apartment cooking soup. A pot would last a week.
I am
reminded of the energizing chill in that corner of the country, the
smell of the air outside after a night of hard rain and the red scarf
that helped to keep me warm. Soft and thick, it was one of my favorite
items of clothing. It now sits neatly folded near the bottom of a
dresser drawer, mostly untouched.
When friends in New England
speak of the biting cold, I sympathize. They grumble about the low
temperatures and slick pavements; I worry about their health and safety.
But I envy them as well. When they describe the icy weather, I think of
the small, cozy kitchens to which they will eventually return.
I
imagine the steam rising from the bowls of soup they will undoubtedly
enjoy: hearty chowders prepared with russet potatoes, chopped clams and
heavy cream, spicy gumbos simmered with chunks of seafood, meat and
vegetables. I get nostalgic for places I am not.
On cold days
in the Bay Area, when close friends and neighbors complain about falling
temperatures and increasingly wet roads, I smile surreptitiously. Deep
down, I welcome the wild weather. Finally, there is an excuse to make
soup. Craving things like split pea and barley, I eagerly dig into
recipes collected from books and magazines.
One rainy
afternoon, I consider making a pea and ham soup by Australian food
writer Donna Hay or a squash, parma ham hock, sage, onion and barley
broth from British chef Jamie Oliver. In the end, I settle on hamburger
barley soup, made from a recipe given to me years ago by an older
sister. It promises to be easy and satisfying, tasty and comforting.
First,
I brown the beef. Ground turkey could substitute well, too; I make a
mental note for the future. Using a pot instead of a frying pan helps to
facilitate cleanup. Into that large pot, I add chopped tomatoes, tomato
juice, water, vegetables, seasonings and barley, saving the carrots and
potatoes for later. When things come to a boil, the heat gets turned
down.
As the soup simmers, I work on other things. I write. I
wander through the house, tidying up the living room and bedroom. I
flip on the radio. I surf the Internet.
Roughly 45 minutes
later, back in the kitchen, now warm and fragrant, the colors in the pot
are impressive: deep reds, dark and light greens, sprinkles of black.
Carrots and potatoes go in next, giving the dish additional colors and
textures.
While the ingredients continue to cook, I grab my
keys, my coat and my red scarf, and head for the front door. I go for a
walk around the neighborhood. The chill in the air outside keeps me
alert. Life is good, I tell myself, wiping a raindrop from my forehead. When I return, there will be soup.
(A version of this essay appeared originally on www.npr.org.)
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
About Me
- Christina Eng
- is a writer and reviewer on the West Coast whose essays and articles have appeared in publications such as the Oakland Tribune, the San Francisco Chronicle, Budget Travel, Brown Alumni Magazine, Saveur, Relish, Gastronomica, Best Food Writing 2002, www.theatlantic.com, www.npr.org and www.culinate.com. She has a bachelor's in English from Brown and a master's in literary nonfiction from the University of Oregon. Send comments, questions and suggestions to: mschristinaeng@gmail.com.
Books I am Reading
- "James and the Giant Peach" by Roald Dahl
- "Manhood for Amateurs" by Michael Chabon
- "The Big Sur Bakery Cookbook" by Michelle and Philip Wojtowicz and Michael Gilson
- "Rustic Fruit Desserts" by Cory Schreiber and Julie Richardson
- "Toast: The Story of a Boy's Hunger" by Nigel Slater
- "Jamie at Home: Cook Your Way to the Good Life" by Jamie Oliver
- "The Gastronomical Me" by M.F.K. Fisher
- "Shark's Fin and Sichuan Pepper: A Sweet-Sour Memoir of Eating in China" by Fuchsia Dunlop
- "My China: A Feast for All the Senses" by Kylie Kwong
- "Serve the People: A Stir-Fried Journey Through China" by Jen Lin-Liu
- "Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance" by Barack Obama
Sites I am Surfing
Films and TV Shows I am Watching
- "Jiro Dreams of Sushi"
- "Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death"
- "Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie"
- "Waitress" with Keri Russell
- "The Future of Food" by Deborah Koons Garcia
- "Food, Inc."
Labels
- almonds (1)
- apple (13)
- apricot (6)
- bacon (4)
- banana (9)
- barbecue (5)
- beans (3)
- beef (12)
- beer (4)
- bell peppers (3)
- bison burger (1)
- black-eyed peas (1)
- blackberry (4)
- blueberry (6)
- books (208)
- braise (2)
- bread (16)
- brownies (4)
- buns (1)
- cake (45)
- cantaloupe (1)
- carrots (2)
- catfish (2)
- cauliflower (2)
- cereal (1)
- cheese (4)
- cheesecake (3)
- cherry (5)
- chicken (19)
- chickpea (1)
- chili (2)
- China (1)
- Chinese (17)
- chocolate (18)
- cobbler (6)
- coffee (5)
- cookies (13)
- corn (4)
- crab (1)
- cranberry (2)
- crisp (2)
- culinate (18)
- cupcakes (12)
- curries (3)
- doughnuts (8)
- drinks (12)
- dumplings (1)
- eggplant (1)
- eggs (7)
- England (23)
- fish (12)
- Food and Wine (2)
- french fries (7)
- fruit (43)
- Gastronomica (2)
- gingerbread (1)
- Guardian (3)
- hamburger (10)
- hope (26)
- hot dog (1)
- ice cream (12)
- Indian (3)
- kale (6)
- kiwi (1)
- Korean (3)
- lamb (5)
- lemon (4)
- lentils (1)
- lime (2)
- lobster (1)
- Lunar New Year (7)
- macarons (4)
- mango (2)
- maple (1)
- meat (1)
- milk (2)
- milkshake (1)
- muffins (1)
- mushrooms (1)
- nectarine (2)
- Newsweek (2)
- noodles (14)
- NPR (9)
- onion rings (2)
- onions (4)
- orange (3)
- pancakes (1)
- pasta (7)
- peach (25)
- pear (3)
- pie (32)
- pineapple (3)
- pizza (5)
- plum (7)
- pluot (3)
- popcorn (1)
- poppyseed (1)
- popsicle (1)
- pork (4)
- potato (3)
- Publishers Weekly (27)
- pudding (2)
- pumpkin (3)
- raspberry (6)
- recipes (55)
- Relish (1)
- rhubarb (9)
- rice (12)
- salmon (3)
- San Francisco Chronicle (11)
- scones (2)
- shrimp (1)
- Slate (2)
- soup (9)
- squash (1)
- stew (3)
- strawberry (15)
- sugar (12)
- sweet potato (1)
- syrup (1)
- tart (5)
- tea (3)
- Thai (1)
- The Atlantic (1)
- The New York Times (16)
- The Oakland Tribune (5)
- The Observer (5)
- The Seattle Times (1)
- The Telegraph (4)
- The Wall Street Journal (1)
- tomato (6)
- Travel + Leisure (1)
- turkey (5)
- vegetables (37)
- Vogue (1)
- wine (1)
- yogurt (1)
- zucchini (2)
Archive
-
►
2017
(2)
- ► 03/19 - 03/26 (1)
- ► 02/26 - 03/05 (1)
-
►
2016
(6)
- ► 08/21 - 08/28 (1)
- ► 07/03 - 07/10 (1)
- ► 05/08 - 05/15 (1)
- ► 03/20 - 03/27 (1)
- ► 03/13 - 03/20 (1)
- ► 01/24 - 01/31 (1)
-
►
2015
(17)
- ► 12/13 - 12/20 (1)
- ► 08/16 - 08/23 (1)
- ► 06/21 - 06/28 (1)
- ► 05/24 - 05/31 (1)
- ► 05/17 - 05/24 (1)
- ► 05/10 - 05/17 (1)
- ► 04/26 - 05/03 (1)
- ► 04/19 - 04/26 (2)
- ► 04/05 - 04/12 (2)
- ► 03/15 - 03/22 (1)
- ► 03/08 - 03/15 (1)
- ► 02/22 - 03/01 (2)
- ► 01/11 - 01/18 (2)
-
►
2014
(52)
- ► 12/28 - 01/04 (1)
- ► 11/23 - 11/30 (2)
- ► 11/09 - 11/16 (1)
- ► 11/02 - 11/09 (2)
- ► 10/26 - 11/02 (2)
- ► 10/12 - 10/19 (1)
- ► 10/05 - 10/12 (1)
- ► 09/28 - 10/05 (1)
- ► 09/21 - 09/28 (1)
- ► 09/14 - 09/21 (1)
- ► 09/07 - 09/14 (1)
- ► 08/24 - 08/31 (1)
- ► 08/17 - 08/24 (1)
- ► 08/10 - 08/17 (1)
- ► 07/20 - 07/27 (1)
- ► 07/13 - 07/20 (1)
- ► 07/06 - 07/13 (1)
- ► 06/29 - 07/06 (1)
- ► 06/22 - 06/29 (1)
- ► 06/15 - 06/22 (3)
- ► 06/08 - 06/15 (2)
- ► 06/01 - 06/08 (1)
- ► 05/25 - 06/01 (1)
- ► 05/11 - 05/18 (2)
- ► 05/04 - 05/11 (1)
- ► 04/27 - 05/04 (2)
- ► 04/20 - 04/27 (2)
- ► 04/13 - 04/20 (2)
- ► 04/06 - 04/13 (1)
- ► 03/30 - 04/06 (1)
- ► 03/23 - 03/30 (2)
- ► 03/16 - 03/23 (2)
- ► 03/02 - 03/09 (1)
- ► 02/23 - 03/02 (1)
- ► 02/09 - 02/16 (2)
- ► 01/26 - 02/02 (2)
- ► 01/12 - 01/19 (1)
- ► 01/05 - 01/12 (1)
-
▼
2013
(62)
- ► 12/29 - 01/05 (2)
- ► 12/22 - 12/29 (2)
- ► 12/15 - 12/22 (2)
- ► 11/24 - 12/01 (1)
- ► 11/10 - 11/17 (1)
- ► 11/03 - 11/10 (1)
- ► 10/27 - 11/03 (2)
- ► 10/20 - 10/27 (2)
- ► 10/13 - 10/20 (1)
- ► 09/29 - 10/06 (2)
- ► 09/22 - 09/29 (2)
- ► 09/15 - 09/22 (1)
- ► 09/08 - 09/15 (1)
- ► 09/01 - 09/08 (1)
- ► 08/25 - 09/01 (1)
- ► 08/18 - 08/25 (3)
- ► 08/11 - 08/18 (3)
- ► 08/04 - 08/11 (1)
- ► 07/28 - 08/04 (1)
- ► 07/21 - 07/28 (1)
- ► 07/14 - 07/21 (1)
- ► 06/23 - 06/30 (1)
- ► 06/16 - 06/23 (2)
- ► 06/09 - 06/16 (2)
- ► 06/02 - 06/09 (1)
- ► 05/26 - 06/02 (2)
- ► 05/12 - 05/19 (1)
- ► 05/05 - 05/12 (1)
- ► 04/28 - 05/05 (2)
- ► 04/21 - 04/28 (1)
- ► 03/31 - 04/07 (2)
- ► 03/17 - 03/24 (2)
- ► 03/10 - 03/17 (1)
- ► 03/03 - 03/10 (1)
- ► 02/24 - 03/03 (1)
- ► 02/17 - 02/24 (2)
- ► 02/10 - 02/17 (1)
- ► 02/03 - 02/10 (2)
- ► 01/20 - 01/27 (2)
- ► 01/06 - 01/13 (1)
-
►
2012
(46)
- ► 12/30 - 01/06 (1)
- ► 12/23 - 12/30 (1)
- ► 12/16 - 12/23 (1)
- ► 12/09 - 12/16 (1)
- ► 12/02 - 12/09 (1)
- ► 11/25 - 12/02 (1)
- ► 11/18 - 11/25 (1)
- ► 10/28 - 11/04 (1)
- ► 10/21 - 10/28 (1)
- ► 10/14 - 10/21 (1)
- ► 09/30 - 10/07 (1)
- ► 09/09 - 09/16 (1)
- ► 09/02 - 09/09 (1)
- ► 08/26 - 09/02 (2)
- ► 08/12 - 08/19 (2)
- ► 07/29 - 08/05 (1)
- ► 07/01 - 07/08 (1)
- ► 06/17 - 06/24 (2)
- ► 06/10 - 06/17 (2)
- ► 06/03 - 06/10 (1)
- ► 05/20 - 05/27 (1)
- ► 05/06 - 05/13 (1)
- ► 04/29 - 05/06 (1)
- ► 04/22 - 04/29 (3)
- ► 04/15 - 04/22 (1)
- ► 04/08 - 04/15 (1)
- ► 04/01 - 04/08 (1)
- ► 03/18 - 03/25 (1)
- ► 03/11 - 03/18 (2)
- ► 02/26 - 03/04 (2)
- ► 02/12 - 02/19 (2)
- ► 01/29 - 02/05 (1)
- ► 01/22 - 01/29 (2)
- ► 01/15 - 01/22 (1)
- ► 01/08 - 01/15 (1)
- ► 01/01 - 01/08 (1)
-
►
2011
(68)
- ► 12/25 - 01/01 (1)
- ► 12/18 - 12/25 (2)
- ► 12/11 - 12/18 (1)
- ► 12/04 - 12/11 (1)
- ► 11/27 - 12/04 (1)
- ► 11/20 - 11/27 (2)
- ► 11/13 - 11/20 (1)
- ► 11/06 - 11/13 (2)
- ► 10/30 - 11/06 (2)
- ► 10/23 - 10/30 (4)
- ► 10/09 - 10/16 (1)
- ► 10/02 - 10/09 (3)
- ► 09/25 - 10/02 (3)
- ► 09/18 - 09/25 (1)
- ► 09/11 - 09/18 (1)
- ► 09/04 - 09/11 (2)
- ► 08/28 - 09/04 (2)
- ► 08/21 - 08/28 (1)
- ► 08/14 - 08/21 (1)
- ► 08/07 - 08/14 (2)
- ► 07/31 - 08/07 (1)
- ► 07/24 - 07/31 (2)
- ► 07/17 - 07/24 (3)
- ► 07/10 - 07/17 (2)
- ► 07/03 - 07/10 (3)
- ► 06/26 - 07/03 (2)
- ► 06/19 - 06/26 (2)
- ► 06/12 - 06/19 (1)
- ► 06/05 - 06/12 (2)
- ► 05/29 - 06/05 (1)
- ► 05/22 - 05/29 (1)
- ► 05/08 - 05/15 (1)
- ► 05/01 - 05/08 (1)
- ► 04/17 - 04/24 (1)
- ► 04/03 - 04/10 (1)
- ► 03/27 - 04/03 (1)
- ► 02/20 - 02/27 (1)
- ► 02/13 - 02/20 (1)
- ► 02/06 - 02/13 (1)
- ► 01/30 - 02/06 (3)
- ► 01/16 - 01/23 (1)
- ► 01/02 - 01/09 (2)
-
►
2010
(66)
- ► 12/19 - 12/26 (1)
- ► 11/21 - 11/28 (1)
- ► 10/24 - 10/31 (1)
- ► 10/17 - 10/24 (1)
- ► 10/10 - 10/17 (2)
- ► 10/03 - 10/10 (4)
- ► 09/26 - 10/03 (3)
- ► 09/19 - 09/26 (1)
- ► 09/12 - 09/19 (1)
- ► 08/22 - 08/29 (1)
- ► 08/08 - 08/15 (2)
- ► 08/01 - 08/08 (1)
- ► 07/25 - 08/01 (2)
- ► 07/18 - 07/25 (1)
- ► 07/11 - 07/18 (1)
- ► 07/04 - 07/11 (1)
- ► 06/27 - 07/04 (3)
- ► 06/20 - 06/27 (3)
- ► 06/13 - 06/20 (1)
- ► 05/30 - 06/06 (2)
- ► 05/23 - 05/30 (1)
- ► 05/09 - 05/16 (1)
- ► 05/02 - 05/09 (1)
- ► 04/25 - 05/02 (1)
- ► 04/18 - 04/25 (3)
- ► 04/11 - 04/18 (1)
- ► 04/04 - 04/11 (1)
- ► 03/28 - 04/04 (1)
- ► 03/21 - 03/28 (3)
- ► 03/14 - 03/21 (3)
- ► 03/07 - 03/14 (2)
- ► 02/28 - 03/07 (1)
- ► 02/21 - 02/28 (2)
- ► 02/14 - 02/21 (2)
- ► 02/07 - 02/14 (1)
- ► 01/31 - 02/07 (2)
- ► 01/24 - 01/31 (2)
- ► 01/17 - 01/24 (1)
- ► 01/10 - 01/17 (2)
- ► 01/03 - 01/10 (2)
-
►
2009
(101)
- ► 12/27 - 01/03 (1)
- ► 12/20 - 12/27 (1)
- ► 12/06 - 12/13 (1)
- ► 11/29 - 12/06 (1)
- ► 11/22 - 11/29 (2)
- ► 11/15 - 11/22 (1)
- ► 11/08 - 11/15 (2)
- ► 11/01 - 11/08 (3)
- ► 10/25 - 11/01 (5)
- ► 10/18 - 10/25 (5)
- ► 10/11 - 10/18 (2)
- ► 10/04 - 10/11 (2)
- ► 09/27 - 10/04 (2)
- ► 09/20 - 09/27 (2)
- ► 09/13 - 09/20 (3)
- ► 09/06 - 09/13 (3)
- ► 08/30 - 09/06 (2)
- ► 08/23 - 08/30 (2)
- ► 08/16 - 08/23 (2)
- ► 08/09 - 08/16 (2)
- ► 08/02 - 08/09 (3)
- ► 07/26 - 08/02 (2)
- ► 07/19 - 07/26 (2)
- ► 07/12 - 07/19 (2)
- ► 07/05 - 07/12 (2)
- ► 06/28 - 07/05 (3)
- ► 06/21 - 06/28 (2)
- ► 06/14 - 06/21 (2)
- ► 06/07 - 06/14 (2)
- ► 05/31 - 06/07 (2)
- ► 05/24 - 05/31 (2)
- ► 05/10 - 05/17 (2)
- ► 05/03 - 05/10 (2)
- ► 04/19 - 04/26 (2)
- ► 04/12 - 04/19 (2)
- ► 04/05 - 04/12 (1)
- ► 03/29 - 04/05 (2)
- ► 03/22 - 03/29 (2)
- ► 03/15 - 03/22 (3)
- ► 03/08 - 03/15 (2)
- ► 03/01 - 03/08 (1)
- ► 02/22 - 03/01 (3)
- ► 02/15 - 02/22 (2)
- ► 02/08 - 02/15 (2)
- ► 02/01 - 02/08 (2)
- ► 01/25 - 02/01 (2)
- ► 01/18 - 01/25 (3)
peachpiewhyaskwhy.blogspot.com is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
No comments:
Post a Comment