We all have memories of food. Some are good and some are bad. Most memories trace back to some childhood experience. Grasshopper No. 2 for example hates peas to this day because I forced her to eat them. I personally can’t stand stewed spinach and I was bribed with money to eat it. I still gag on the smell as well as the taste. You get the idea.
To put a positive spin on this, there a foods that are a delight and childhood experiences were good. When I was about 6 years old, every spring around mid April, my Grandpa Chalk and Myrna would take their big black Buick and drive around the local countryside late in the afternoon. They knew every patch of asparagus that grew wild around the area. The asparagus could be seen peeking though the grass along the roadside and we would stop on the side of country roads and walk along the grass to pick asparagus. For a young kid it was like an Easter egg hunt. It was fun to find the green asparagus stalks. I think we cut the stalks near the ground so that the following year there would again be a repeat crop. We usually ended up with several wooden baskets full of the green lilac plants. Who would have guessed that asparagus is a derivative of the lilac type plant?
The asparagus never had a distinct smell when it was being prepared but the soft stalks drenched in butter left good memories. The taste is scrumptious.
I was reminded of aspargus as I roamed the vegetable isles at the local grocery store and I see that some retaurants are advertising asparagus as part of their April menu. Yep, it is that time of year.
As a reminder of this terrific experience of finding, picking, preparing, and eating asparagus is the lingering “after effect”. Every trip to the bathroom leaves a very aromic urine smell. It is bitter sweet! I love the food but I could do without the intense odor.
I love asparagus. Maybe it is because it tastes good. Maybe it is because at an early age I participated in the harvest of the cute little plant. Maybe because it is considered a classy serving (better restaurants offer it on their spring menus). Maybe just because!
So if you get a chance, enjoy the experience of tender asparagus and stink up your bathroom!
Love,
Dad