Food in Times of Sadness

These past days and weeks have been a difficult time for a lot of people I care about. I normally keep the blog pretty upbeat, but this has been a sad week, so it seems fitting that the posting take on a similar mood.

About a month ago, my friends Mike and Janel Holth lost their father/father-in-law, respectively. Dave was an extremely intelligent man with a fantastic sense of humor and he adored his wife Jan and three kids, Mike, Dan and Beth. This past Saturday, my aunt Maria lost her father and my cousins Eric and Marc lost their grandfather. It was easy for anyone to see how much Grandpa Joe loved his two beautiful daughters and his five grandchildren. And on Sunday, Marc Weisenburger bid farewell to his wife and TJ, Kara and Adam said goodbye to their mother. Carolyn was a vivacious, vibrant woman and she will be deeply missed by all who knew her. All three individuals fought a courageous and commendable battle against the demon that is Cancer.
And on Tuesday, my friend Mary lost her Grandpa Billings. He kissed his wife and went to lay down for a nap, passing away peacefully in his sleep.

I can't even begin to say how much my heart is aching for you, my dear friends and family, who are mourning the loss of someone so close to you.
I am so sorry you are hurting.

This week has got me thinking about the role that food plays in times of sadness and sorrow. During these times, we turn to food for comfort and to assist in the expression of our sympathy. After funerals, we often gather to eat. The meal brings us together, helps us relax, provides a sense of normalcy and encourages conversation. We can sit ham sandwich in hand and share memories, telling stories of the person we have lost. Many times following a death, food is brought to the family, their refrigerator gradually filling with stacks of Tupperware and Pyrex. Casseroles and cookies are a tangible way to show how much we care, when there are not enough words to articulate the depth of our concern.

“Rest assured that in her dying, in her flight through darkness toward a new light, she held you in her arms and carried your closeness with her. And when she arrived at God, your image was imprinted on her joy-filled soul.”
-- Molly Fumia

The Farmers' Market

I absolutely adore going to the farmers' market. Row after row of fresh vegetables, fruit and flowers delight and tempt the senses. And everything is such a good deal! For someone who loves food and a bargain as much as I do, this place is paradise! Yesterday I went to the Minneapolis farmers' market (right by the Basilica) with Rick and his mom Jill and we had such a delightful time. While there, we feasted on cinnamon-roasted almonds and freshly-squeezed limeade. We left laden down with deep purple eggplants, sweet corn, burst-in-your-mouth cherry tomatoes, yellow onions, juicy-ripe cherries, aromatic basil, 3 kinds of honey and deliciously spicy salsa.

To use up some of the abundance, I decided to make what has become one of my favorite Rachael Ray recipes: Pasta with Roasted Eggplant Sauce. To begin, cut 2 baby eggplants into 1 inch cubes and place in a bowl with 6 peeled cloves of garlic. Toss with olive oil and salt & pepper and spread onto a baking sheet covered in foil. Bake for about 20 minutes at 425º. When done, puree eggplant and garlic in a food processor. In a large skillet on the stove, heat olive oil over medium heat and add one finely chopped yellow onion. When onion is just beginning to brown, add eggplant-garlic mixture and stir together. Once heated through, add one 28-oz can of crushed tomatoes, combine and salt & pepper to taste. Before serving over pasta, add torn or chopped basil and top with parmesan cheese. I had enough of everything to double the recipe, which adds just a couple minutes more prep time. Joe, Liz, Rick and I ate it fresh last night for dinner and Nicole, Liz, Mom and I will all be partaking in the leftovers for the next few days. This is a great spin on pasta sauce, making a heartier, more nutritious sauce with a richer, bolder taste.
Did I mention that I love the farmers' market???