Seasonal Eatings - Autumn 2024

Letter from the Editor

Kandy Derden

Managing Editor

Watch the trash. That’s it. That’s all. Watch the trash. What? Why?

The answer is simple really. Even though people ‘say’ a particular food is tasty, that doesn’t mean they like it. If they suddenly get ‘full’ and can’t eat another bite, or decide to ‘save it for later,’ don’t believe it! Check the trash.

When cooking for a crowd, this is how I determine if a particular menu or dish is good enough to make again. This is especially true with large crowds where you don’t get any verbal feedback. So, if you see lots of empty plates in the trash, you nailed it! But if lots of edible garbage is visible, it is a sign it still needs a little bit, or a lotta bit, of work.

This is why I test the recipes before printing them. Regular readers may have noticed how I often include notes on possible substitutions or additions. When possible,

we include observations on such things as how easy it is to transport. If it is better served chilled, we’ll say so plus offer suggestions on items which pair well with this dish.

Remember, even with all the options listed, it all boils down to one thing: what do you like? If you like it, eat up! If not, eat what you do like. Life’s too short to eat something substandard. We were taught to clean our plates and never waste food. To this day it is hard to stop eating when food still is on the plate.

Are my eyes bigger than my stomach? Maybe. Or perhaps it is just a habit. It takes a long time to un-condition our behaviors learned decades ago. But with practice, I’m getting better at being able to say, that’s enough. If I eat it, I’ll be sorry, if not downright miserable. So one or two bites left unfinished is okay; it is a sign of not going hungry and that’s a blessing!