Welcome to The Nest

My nest is a lot bigger now that we’ve moved from Rochester, NY to the Greater Boston Area, but it’s still just our little kitchen: some counter space for working, a nicely sized fridge (with cow magnets!), cabinets for storage (this time around we can fit more than 6 mugs behind closed doors at once), and enough movable space that I can work with a buddy (his name is Alex – more to come). The vent fan doesn’t work, even after the management company swapped out the 1950s model with something newer. We set off the fire alarm and have to open the windows if we want to cook with the cast iron. It’s home. And the walls are grease stained. And the linoleum floors are peeling. And it always smells faintly of plants and whatever dish soap refill we’re using this month.

Welcome to my little home, where these days I do a lot of workout classes, make the bed at 2pm, and apply for jobs whilst sitting on the floor. Unemployment came swiftly and without warning this past month and I’m making do. I’m getting by making tasty dinners to feed long evening walks as the sun sets later, watching Brooklyn Nine Nine by the light of the new Trader Joes candle, and falling asleep reading. I’m petting LOTS of dogs. I’m visiting family (and petting their dogs).

Food remains at the center of it all – the apartment we rented specifically with room to cook more. Homemade dinners that have carried our family of two, since day one, to now, over 5 years later. New discoveries of cafés and restaurants that get us out of the house, on the train, and somewhere new. Friend visits and laughs over wine and takeout. Drives home to bring North End cannoli to dearest loved ones. “Any ideas on dinner?” is our general “how are you?”

Some of the constants in our nest?

The presence of food allergies! We’re cooking and eating to care for over 60 of ’em, and I won’t negotiate on flavor, comfort, nourishment, or excitement. I’m a food lover. So we are food lovers. We’ll dive into that more soon!

Food and social justice. Cooking is emotional. Eating is emotional. Sharing food is emotional. And all the many things we feel in our lives end up wonderfully, beautifully, and often painfully tied to the food we create, provide, and consume. This blog comes, in part, from the anguish of the everyday as I watch people suffer in my community and around the world. We’ll talk about that here too.

Food and our bodies. Or rather, my body. And the bodies we feed. And the nourishment we crave. And the way food is woven into my history and all I am.

Food and joy. The simple fact that I love, very deeply and with all my heart, delicious food. Making it, serving it, sharing it, eating it.

So welcome to the nest. There’s a lot to say, a lot to share, a lot to eat (yay!)… thanks for joining me.