"Food for thought", a very colloquial phrase that you can interpret in various ways. For the sake of this article I will be applying this phrase in the most literal way I know, and that is to describe a food that makes me think. A food that evokes a series of memories that were once hidden in the back of my mind tucked under a rug. A food that does this is lasagna. Every year a few weeks before Thanksgiving I am asked what dish am I going to prepare, and my response is always lasagna even though I have never made it on my own before.
Lasagna is a dish that is made using wide pasta layered with meat, cheese, and more wide pasta. This process is then repeated several more times as you, the chef, see fit. It may seem simple to someone who knows what they are doing, but to someone like me who has little experience in the kitchen; it is a disaster waiting happen. Preparing the lasagna involves boiling the pasta, cooking the meat, and gathering the various cheeses and/or vegetables you wish to include it. It is this preparation process that leaves me bewildered.
As I begin to ponder lasagna's preparation process I am forced to recall my many failed attempts at boiling spaghetti, macaroni, ziti and several types of pasta that, in the end, all had similar results. The pasta was either soggy and unsalted, or it was chewy and oversalted. Thankfully the only people who tasted my pasta where my younger cousins who weren't too harsh with their critique. Although, their facial expressions said otherwise since their facial expression while eating my pasta resembled that of a someone has just taken a big bite out of a lemon, "sour face". As I watched them throw out the rest of the pasta I couldn't help feeling ashamed and disappointed.
When it comes to the meat that is to be included I prefer ground beef, but whenever I prepare it seems to be over seasoned. No matter how hard I try to limit the number of seasonings there is always a surplus of one season that is overwhelming to one's flavor palette. One occasion that haunts me till this day occurred when my aunt called me and asked me start cooking ground beef that she left to thaw out. When she arrived home and tasted the meat she became furious. The ground beef was very salty because I was unaware that all the seasonings I was adding contained salt. My aunt was outraged and attempted to salvage the meat by adding in vegetables, but it was no use. She was forced to throw it out, and hated the fact that food was being wasted. For the following weeks my mistake is was what was discussed with guests, and I was embarrassed to have to explain what occurred every time.
One might ask why am I so intent on making lasagna on my own. My response would be that I want to successfully prepare a dish that was taught to me by my mother, and share the same feeling that we once shared, the joy of accomplishment and satisfaction, with everyone one who tastes it. This feeling can only be accomplished when I can successfully master lasagna's components, and only then will I be able to put my failed attempts behind me.
Although, I don't remember very well my first time making lasagna with my mother. I do remember it was an exciting and interesting experience. She was very patient with me and understanding. When I was having difficulty placing the boiled pasta in the tray she aided me by giving me a few pointers. Although, she is no longer with me I hope to successfully make lasagna, so that I too may share a similar experience with my children someday.
These are some of thoughts/memories that come to mind when lasagna is put in a conversation or on my plate. Lasagna is my "food for thought" and the memories I have of lasagna will be introduced to new ones in the near future as I continue to attempt to make lasagna on my own. What is a food that incites memories from your past? And what are those memories about?
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