Surprises in Store
Dear readers, I am sorry for my unexpectedly long absence. I know you are all tired of looking at those bunny cupcakes (as am I). Many real-life circumstances have conspired to keep me away from the kitchen and the computer, but I hope that I will be back to my regular blogging self shortly. In the meantime, I have a few suprises to share with you (at least one of which will partially explain my hiatus).
First, a surprise arrived on my doorstep yesterday! The very thoughtful and kind Mairead, who writes a blog called Fill Up on Bread, packed a box full of goodies from her homeland of Australia for this round of Blogging By Mail, a fabulous event where food bloggers are assigned the glorious task of sending a little slice of their culinary tradition by post to a fellow blogger. Mairead was assigned to me, and I know she thought her package would never arrive (she posted about it’s send-off over a month ago)!
But arrive it did, and how happy it made me. One of the things I particularly liked about this package is that Mairead attempted to represent the various parts of her culinary heritage: for her upbringing in Ireland, she sent the classic Twinings Breakfast Tea; to represent time she spent in India, three boxes of delicious-sounding masala mixes arrived; and then, of course, there’s Australia. Sweets from Down Under included chocolate biscuits called Tim Tams, which have made the perfect companion to an afternoon of Melbourne’s Vittoria coffee, and chocolate bars called Cherry Ripes, an interesting combination of tart cherry, coconut, and dark, rich chocolate.
One of the things I’m most excited about experimenting with is macadamia oil; I’ve never even heard of it, but I bet it makes a fabulous salad dressing. Next are two native Australian condiments: rosella jam and mango mint chutney. I’m thinking that the jam would be lovely on French bread with a slice of white cheddar cheese for breakfast. A Mexican dip mix sounds like the perfect thing to take to a party I have to go to this weekend, and last but not least, an array of fragrant Australian spices, for which I will have to do some research (fun!) to figure out what to do with them.
Mairead, thank you, thank you, for such a thoughtful and exciting array of flavors from around the world; I can’t wait to try them all.
But, it may take me a while to do so, due to my second surprise. You see, one of the reasons I have been away from the kitchen is because in the first trimester of pregnancy, one’s appetite tends to do bizarre things. That’s right, I’m going to have a baby, and so far, the baby has not wanted me to eat anything very interesting. In fact, opening the refrigerator door often sends me running in the other direction. I’ve been lucky to have avoided sickness, but the faint feeling of nausea, especially induced by smells, has been ever-present, so cooking has not been much fun. Nor have I really felt like standing in the kitchen: pregnancy makes you more tired than I could have imagined. My friend Betsy gave the best description I’ve heard so far: she said she felt like she’d been drugged. David has been a trooper–preparing meals and fetching snacks out of the fridge so I don’t have to open it. Everyone says that the second trimester–which is only a couple of weeks away–is much better, so I’m hoping to be back to blogging, and most of all to cooking. I miss it.
I hope this fall finds all of you out there cooking up wonderful things, and I hope to join you soon.
If you’re interested in what other folks have sent and received for Blogging By Mail, check out the running round-up over at Dispensing Happiness.
October 17th, 2006 at 5:32 pm
I totally understand about thinking your BBM will never come. I asked when mine got mailed to check if it was one of the late senders but it got mailed over a month ago. I am sad but hopeful. I just hope nothing in it can die from delivery failure.
Congrats on the baby.
October 17th, 2006 at 7:21 pm
Welcome back, Jen. I had a sneaking suspicion the little fella\girl was interfering with your routine. What a wonderful package you received!
Enjoy. Janie
October 17th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
Jennifer! Congratulations!!!! When you said you had surprises at the beginning of this post I wondered if this was one of them. How exciting! I hope that you will be able to post more often soon (for your own sake!). Maybe you can teach the little one what good food is early on.
Congrats again!
October 18th, 2006 at 7:38 am
Jennifer - big [hugs] and congrats! Yay! I had a feeling something interesting was up. As for feeling drugged, you are, Darling. pregnancy floods your body with hormones. It gets better. And your appetite will improve.
You’ll have to blog about your cravings and strange food combinations - they are fun.
My favorite snack was a chocolate ice cream soda made with orange sherbet. Don’t ask me why!? I consumed dozens of them. Ha!
October 18th, 2006 at 12:40 pm
Oh MYYYYYYYYYYYYY … I’ve been wondering, blamed it on school etc blah blah but when I saw that there would be “two things” in your post, I got shivers and just KNEW ……… hoped, prayed, then celebrated!!
Many many congratulations …………. (and I’ll tell my sister, yes, the conversation’s off?! trust me, she will understand … )
October 19th, 2006 at 9:53 am
what nice blogging friends you have. Hope you’re feeling all better. love you loads
October 19th, 2006 at 8:11 pm
I’m going to be a blog auntie!!! I’m sooooooooo excited!
Jennifer, I’m sending you and your husband a huge hug!
October 20th, 2006 at 4:51 pm
Wow! Congratulations! I sure hope the “symptoms” do what they’re supposed to do and go away after the first trimester. But use this time to rest as much as possible–and enjoy the sight of your husband doing the cooking.
October 21st, 2006 at 12:15 am
Yay! Congratulations! I’m so happy for you and your husband =))
I first read the Southern cooking post and when you mentioned the pregnancy I thought.. wow, I don’t recall ever reading about her being pregnant before and couldn’t decide if you were talking in the present or in the past and then I scrolled down and read this one! har! I’m happy it’s in the present
Cheers to a easy pregnancy and no more queasies! *hugs*
October 22nd, 2006 at 2:23 am
Congratulations! I’m a friend of the Gatewoods and I read your blog all the time for foodie inspiration! All the best and hope you start feeling better soon!
October 23rd, 2006 at 8:18 am
Congratulations!
October 23rd, 2006 at 12:28 pm
Congratulations!!
Yes, I completely understand the lack of interest in cooking and the ever present nausea. I won’t depress you my pregancy and nausea stories, I hope yours goes more smoothly and that you feeling lots more energic soon!
Best of luck!
October 28th, 2006 at 5:06 pm
What a relief that my package has finally arrived! So glad you are happy with its contents: I had fun putting it together. Many congratulations on the pregnancy: Maybe the mint chutney can help with the nausea!
October 30th, 2006 at 8:21 pm
Oh congrats Jennifer! I have been out of blogging and reading blogs for a couple of weeks. I am so glad that I checked back on you.
I hope that you soon feel yourself again, I am selfish, I really want to see your delicious food!!
Your baby is going to be so lucky to have a great mom like you.
November 1st, 2006 at 7:17 pm
Congratulations/Felicitations! I’m just getting back into the swing of things myself and catching up on my favorite blogs! Wishing you a smooth pregnancy and much happiness! I look forward to reading all about it!