There is something fish-y here

My dad was born in China and as a young girl, that was soooo confusing. Remember those reports we (or at least I) had to write in elementary school about our families? For me, it was a nightmare that made no sense. You see my dad's mom was born in Mexico and so by the time I got through explaining my dad's and grandmother's origins, I was totally confused and felt isolated as no one else in the class had such a far-traveled family tale! To make matters even more confusing, they lived in Canada most of their lives until dad went to college. Phew!

As an adult, I wanted dad to go back to China and see where he had lived, but by the time he applied for a passport, he was beyond the adventuring stage. And, it took some time for the government to figure things out, too! We tried to locate Grandma Jean's birthplace while we lived in Mexico but so much had changed. Maybe that is what discouraged dad from revisiting his birthplace. Anyway, we still have his beautiful silk baby booties!

Here is a delicious Asian sauce recipe that is perfect on rice or soba noodles and welcomes the addition of some shrimp if you'd like it even "fishier" or tofu. It is spicy and so you may want to tone it down or fire it up!

Lime Chili Sauce

1/3 cup fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons fish sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
¼ cup finely shredded carrots
½ teaspoon chili paste
1 tablespoon each chopped fresh mint and cilantro

Whisk all together. Makes ¾ cup

Setting the Table

I have a green table that sits in the middle of my kitchen. No telling how old it is. It has been in many other homes, I suspect, before mine. The legs are sturdy and graceful, but the “toes” are stubbed and worn. There is part of the table that forms a brace joining the legs. It is a great perch for baskets and dogs’ paws. The surface of the table unfolds like a puzzle and goes from small to large with a wiggle of a couple of pieces of wood hidden underneath the main tabletop. The man I bought it from said it came from Hungary. I love the color, or colors of green, that pop through. Starting with emerald through to lime, there are many shades until, in small patches, the bare wood softly peeks out. The colors of green remind me to choose well and responsibly. I love this table, the food that goes on it, the chairs, elbows and paws that pull up and rest there. It is the heart of my kitchen and reminds me daily of family, of savory recipes and delicious conversations. It is the centerpiece for not only our food, but for our stories. As a nutritionist trained in science, that table roots me to the simple joys and art of cooking and eating with family and friends.

Today, I have a big bunch of fresh red radishes smack in the middle of the table. Looks a little holiday-ish for April! I am just going to dig into those...sliced thin with a little sea salt and sugar. Simple,delicious and sweet.