Foodie Thoughts

 

So, lately some friends of ours are displaying an increasing tendency toward "foodiness". 

We already have several friends who are seriously into gastronomical exploration. One couple we unfortunately don't get to see very often, because they live across an ocean, and, well, let's face it, Gavin and I aren't able to drop everything and fly over for a visit. Another couple we get to see frequently, when our children aren't ill or suffering insomniac spells. I have watched the progression of these friends' hobbies, listened as more friends caught the foodie bug. I've noted the cookbooks from which they draw inspiration, considered their cheeses, sauces, and mains, and I've joined with them (vicariously) in enjoying each carefully photographed and homemade gourmet meal. 

So, foodie friends, this post is for you. 

Gavin had a special request for his birthday dinner this year, and who was I to deny him? I said "It's your birthday. 

Anything you want, I'll make it, or we'll buy it." It took him several days to decide. I admit, a part of me longed for him to express a wish for pan-seared scallops, or something involving truffle oil, or caviar, or similar expensive nummy novelty. But, those who know Gavin know that two things reign supreme in Kingdom Stomach Hammel. Green apples, and fried chicken. Last night, I discovered that his gift for getting cats to lick (and enjoy licking) apple cores is going 

to extend to our daughter. 

Help me, foodie friends, help me. Because part of me 

really enjoyed my first piece of that chicken. The other part of me had to stop midway through the second piece.

A Monumental Relationship?

Catherine and Heathclif, Bonnie and Clyde, Bert and Ernie. And now....Morgen and Dolly. Thanks to Grandma Hammel for this early Valentine's Day present.

The weekend that wasn't

I have to confess that I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself this morning. At the beginning of last week, things were really looking up. Morgen was eating and sleeping better. I made some plans to see friends from school, to go out for dinner to remember my friend Amanda (it would have been her thirty-second birthday on Saturday), and to take Morgen out to see her adopted Aunt Nicole for a nice brunch with some new friends. And then, Morgen, Gavin and I picked up some sort of little cold virus complete with the highest fever she's had to this point. A doctor confirmed our suspicions that the soy formula we've been giving her to help her gain weight may be making her eczema worse. I cancelled my plans, and Morgen has since been eating and sleeping really poorly. If she were a very fat happy little girl, I wouldn't be so worried about it - but she's a slightly skinny girl on doctor's orders to bulk up as much as possible, so I'm a bit concerned. As this photo shows, she is unhappily smearing most of what we offer her on her face. We're trying to find this cute instead of troubling.

I know that parenthood will often require us to change plans, and Morgen is probably fine - just transitioning into the next phase of eating by protesting the night weaning and her stuffy nose so that she gets more mommy during the daytime. I'm doing my best not to lose that sense of forward momentum that had me smiling at the beginning of this week. But I'm not entirely succeeding. 

Strike Two

Having declared the solid food strike officially over before we had our agreement in writing, I (Management) unintentionally forced Morgen (the Union) to file a grievance.  Preliminary expressions of displeasure included small spit ups, fussiness, a moderate temperature, and refusal to sleep. The Union escalated the conflict yesterday, refusing solid food in a final bid to force Management to relieve her over-worked stuffy nose and to halt discussions over quantities of food consumed and prospects for dietary expansion.

Negotiations produced a small compromise in the form of a milk-free organic rice rusk cracker, offered by Management and deemed acceptable by the Union. Investigation by Management revealed this to be slight, if any, progress, as the aforementioned cracker contains a mere seven calories, and only .15 grams of protein - insufficient nutrition for any infant worker, even with frequent liquid refreshments. 

Advice from a pediatrician (newly appointed by the General Practitioner to mediate for the better interest of both parties) has led to the cessation of  any attempts on behalf of Management to offer the Union soy or milk-based products. Management is currently researching goat's milk and hypoallergenic formula, and, being assured that the latter tastes like bile and the former is slightly difficult to digest given the age of the Union, we are confident that food strike number two will be concluded once the offending stuffy nose subsides and hunger asserts itself. 

Missed it by a day

This is what happens when you think you've read the flyer that was dropped into your mailbox when in fact you've only skimmed it: you miss the local winter carnival by one day. After stuffing Morgen into her pink snowsuit and jaja hat, trudging up the street and braving the rivers of water that were streaming into the intersections, we arrived at the junction square on Sunday only to find this ice sculpture, and a very small slushy ice rink. Still we enjoyed it. The sun was out, we were out, all in all it was a nice afternoon walk. 

We finished our little outing with a trip to the local video store, where I used some Christmas coupons to buy a stack of girly movies. Despite Gavin's complaints and ignoring his suggestions, I selected six films. As something of a crappy movie connoisseur, I have to tell you that I nevertheless passed on the opportunity to buy "Kate & Leopold" for less than seven dollars. My taste must be evolving. Someone out there must be proud of me for that. Anyone? Well, I'm proud of me, any way.