Thanks to my parents, the mentality that food is sacred and meant to be appreciated has long been ingrained in my head. This all happened long before there was a Julie's Kitchen, and even long before I was tall enough to reach the stove top. There is a saying in Cantonese, that translated, goes something like, "Know you that your bowl of rice each grain from hardship comes?" At dinnertime, if we didn't lick our bowls clean or if a grain of rice made its way onto the table, my mother would immediately prompt us with the said proverb. My cantonese is shoddy, but the gist of the lesson alludes to the tremendous amount of work that it takes to produce one single grain of rice – The farmer plants the rice, waters the plant, harvests the grains, hulls each grain, etc. This is a lesson that has stuck with me and really shaped my appreciative attitude towards food, cooking and eating. Watching sitcoms where Brussels Sprouts were compared to feet, I never really fully understood the analogy. Granted, I was eight or so at the time and many things in the big world eluded my young mind. I loved vegetables as a child. Even the bitterest greens were like candy to me. It's all about your attitude and your openness to new tastes. I created this completely vegetarian meal to defy the common childhood stereotype filled with Fido-worthy veggies. We've got sweet steamed corn with miso butter and Parmesan, crunchy stir-fry of yellow/orange carrots and protein-rich edamame, garlic braised spinach and a bowl of multi-grain brown rice mix. If vegetables were always this pretty, who wouldn't lick their plates clean?
[this is good] I agree! Veggies are the way to go! I always loved veggies as a child, and now I’m still in love with them. And who wouldn’t want to eat your lovely plate of veggies?? It looks (and from your description, sounds) totally delicious~
I think this looks totally delicious. I would eat it and definitely not complain about the lack of meat I was the same way as a child. I preferred dandelion greens, cabbage, and green beans to practically any kind of food.
9 Comments
Singing Horse
03 Jul 2008 01:07 am
[this is good] This plate is perfect for my diet now. Really pretty presentation!
Strawberry
03 Jul 2008 01:07 am
[this is good] You make everything look so delicious! Thanks for sharing this, yum!
shippouchan
03 Jul 2008 05:07 am
[this is good] I agree! Veggies are the way to go! I always loved veggies as a child, and now I’m still in love with them. And who wouldn’t want to eat your lovely plate of veggies?? It looks (and from your description, sounds) totally delicious~
airmouse
03 Jul 2008 08:07 am
[this is good] This looks delicious! I, too, love vegetables–especially broccoli, brussels sprouts, lettuce, kale, and cauliflower!
Elly
03 Jul 2008 10:07 am
I think this looks totally delicious. I would eat it and definitely not complain about the lack of meat
I was the same way as a child. I preferred dandelion greens, cabbage, and green beans to practically any kind of food.
Purplesque
03 Jul 2008 06:07 pm
[this is good] I could die for every single thing on this plate..it looks simple, elegant, and oh so delicious. You inspire me, Julie.
Rebecka
07 Jul 2008 01:07 am
Very pretty, indeed!
MoOgooGuypAN
07 Jul 2008 08:07 pm
Those plates are awsome. Where do you get your plates from?
julie
09 Jul 2008 07:07 pm
Funny you ask MoOgooGuypan… I adore these plates too. Most of my plates are from Ikea but these lovelies were a gift.
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