Food Lovin'

I like to show my love for people in lots of ways. One of my favorite ways to love people is by feeding them! Maybe it's the Italian in me...I just love giving people good food to eat. It makes me feel so content to know that my friends and family are full and satisfied because of something I made for them.

I think that food has an amazing ability to provide health and energy to our bodies. It also can remind us of places we've been and things that we've done. Every time I eat a French baguette I think of our honeymoon in Paris. We got one every day to gobble up with cheese. The smell and taste of food can bring you right back to a memory.

Here's a somewhat unflattering picture of me holding a baguette and devouring some chocolate gelato in Paris.


My Mom makes this recipe called "Hot Fruit Salad" every Christmas morning. The minute I smell it in the oven, I'm flooded with happy memories of Christmas. It's not the lowest calorie recipe, but it sure tastes good!

Mom's Hot Fruit Salad
~This is great as leftovers~

• 3 fresh oranges (she actually uses Mandarin oranges, 1 large can)
• 1 large can pears
• 1 large can pineapple chunks
• 1 large can sliced peaches

Mixture

• 1 stick margarine or butter, melted
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup milk
  

1. Mix fruit together and pour the mixture over it.
2. Heat in a 350 degree oven until it bubbles (30 minutes, more or less)
3. Enjoy and then store leftovers in the fridge (tastes good cold, too).
   

Earlier this year I decided that my Dad (who is retired) should have some good homemade food for lunch each day. I don't like the idea of him eating frozen dinners with 10,000 mystery ingredients and high amounts of sodium. I began making him various soups, chilies, gumbos, and rice and then freezing them in small containers. He just gets one out of the freezer at lunchtime and thaws it in the microwave.

This would be a great idea for someone who is home-bound or a mom with young children who barely gets a chance to grab a bite to eat at lunchtime. It's so easy to do...just double the recipe you're making for your own family that night and freeze the second batch in containers. You could make four small loaves of bread. Eat one with your dinner, and freeze three for a friend. Sometimes doing just a little something for another person can make a big difference.

The person I love to cook for more than anyone else on the planet is my husband. He is the best! He likes almost anything and is always quick to compliment me. He is a very creative person and often gives me ideas for what dishes to pair together or what extra ingredient he thinks would be good. Getting a healthy dinner on the table for him doesn't feel like a burdensome chore to me. It's just another way to show him that I love and care for him.

Here's a picture of us in front of the Louvre Museum of Art.


Some of his favorite dishes are Shrimp and Zucchini Tostadas, Kung Pao Chicken, and Hoisin Glazed Shrimp. I decided to make all three of them this week because I have shrimp and chicken in the freezer. Because I have many of the ingredients on hand, I only spent about $50 on groceries for the week. I love when that happens.

So, if you are so inclined, go ahead and spread some food lovin'. As long as you don't lick your fingers or pick your nose while you cook...people will love it!