On food

Every one's choice of food is influenced by something.
And being raised on mostly American and PA Dutch delights such spaghetti, Hamburger Helper and meatloaf makes me wonder how I have ever came to love practically everything. And not just everything, but in weird combinations, too.
As I sit here and write this, I am snacking on a bowl of couscous mixed with raisins, chic peas, avocado and feta cheese.
After a lot of thinking, I believe I found the root of it all. Besides watching scary movies way too scandalous for our age, freezing underwear and making prank calls, we partook in another tradition at sleepovers as children. We dared people to drink whatever we mixed up in the kitchen. Our concoctions of mayonnaise, hot sauce, applesauce, milk and egg yolks must have made me tolerant and in fact enjoy food of all flavors and types.
So, I find joy in looking in my refrigerator and combining whatever it is that I see. And the more I try, the more I find flavors that mix in a magical way. I love Guy from Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, because he mixed sushi with pork barbecue.
It's a great way to use leftovers, experience new flavors and come up with a new favorite recipe. I am sure you will run into a few mishaps, but your won't find the gems if you don't eat the dirt first! Enjoy experimenting!