If there is some, pre-packaged, over-“preservified” food that the general adult population acknowledges as gross, well, I usually like it. You know, stuff like cheese in a can (spray or otherwise), Twinkies, Cheetos, chef-boy-ar-dee ravioli, frozen burritos….and the like. I think it’s because

#1 – it was cheap and we always had it around (i.e. burritos, ravioli) or

#2 – it’s because we NEVER had it….(i.e. Twinkies) so I feel as though I was deprived of it.

My favorite home-cooked meal was my dad’s goulash. It doesn’t even have a real name; I am just calling goulash to call it something! It was more like a savory stew/chili….I think he made it up as he went along. Tomato sauce base, ground hamburger, cut up potatoes, and corn. I’m sure it also had spices of some kind (probably just salt and pepper). He didn’t make it very often but I would get so excited whenever he did. I think, deep down, I liked the fact that it was coming from my dad instead of my mom (or a can) which is what typically happened. In addition, doesn’t it sound yummy? Sincerely? I could eat a bowl of it right now!

He cooked it in a large skillet over the stove.

So, I guess something like that would be considered, by a more ‘civilized’ person, as gross but it was fine dining at the Aguirre’s – real meat, fresh potatoes….. yum!

Nowadays, I am not encouraged to create my own goulash. Whenever I try, my husband turns his nose up at it which, in a strange way, hurts my feelings a little. He was raised by a mom who valued “fresh” eating. She grows her own vegetables every year in a beautiful garden, knows how to cook chicken 1000 different ways and never EVER put mayo on anything! Josh and I initially battled over food issues and the battles continued as I created meals for our children but ultimately, his way (sigh) is the better way. The poor little rich white Mexican in me struggles to spend lots of money on fresh and healthy foods but I know that in the end the eating habits you develop as a kid will continue on into adulthood.

Don’t worry though, my kids still get the junk every once in a while if I can creatively pursue it. For example, did you know that the first Friday in June is National Doughnut Day? I mean – you just can’t let days like those go by without acknowledging them, right? 😉

As for the giant pancake – well, it doesn’t really have anything to do with anything except that it’s a funny memory of my dad cooking for his kids: One night, I believe it was late in the evening, my dad decided to make pancakes for us as a special treat. He poured the batter on the pan and made quick business of burning it. He dumped it in the trash and tried again – burn!…this time with a side of low grumbling. Trash!

OK THIS time he knows he can do it….once again, burned. Time and time again batter would make its way into the pan and straight into the trash. Finally with two little gigglers behind him, he throws the ENTIRE bowl of batter into the pan and declares “FORGET IT! I’m just making ONE – GIANT – Pancake!”

As I am sure you have surmised, we never got to taste any of that batter but we laughed and laughed and laughed ….and laughed (well, my brother and I did at least….laugh and laugh).