Recipes For Living: Life Is Full Of Firsts

Recipes for Living: Life Is Full Of Firsts

By Kandy Derden Let’s Go Editor

From our very first breath we begin to accumulate first experiences. I find it sad whenever someone stops trying new things.

I like traditions and routines; they serve a very important purpose in life. But there is no point in becoming stagnant when wonderful opportunities abound to become involved in something new. You might find it to be worth repeating as a new favorite or simply a once in a lifetime memory.

Perhaps a new hobby is needed or travel to a new place. In spite of the many times I’ve heard someone say they are ‘too old’ to try something, I’m not convinced yet. A dear friend of my family decided to take music lessons when in her forties. One of my relatives learned to drive when in her early fifties. True, these are not the usual ages for such, but I still admire them for deciding what they wanted and not letting anything stop them.

I have a not-so-secret desire to learn how to play a new musical instrument. Sadly, there hasn’t been much opportunity to try it. I may be retired before I get a chance to put some action behind my words.

One of my most recent firsts was a surprise. To help you understand why, please let me back up a bit. My grandmother had a very acute sense of taste and smell. As a result, she could take one bite, or sometimes two, of a new dish and tell us exactly what was in it. Admittedly, some things are easy, but she could detect even the most miniscule amount of any ingredient.

I don’t have that talent. However, over the years of searching for interesting recipes to share, I have developed the ability to read an ingredient list and just know it will be good.

This is where the first comes in. I found a tasty-sounding recipe and did my usual test run before writing about it. The ingredients are expensive, it took a long time to prepare and it was ridiculously unhealthy. But wait, there’s more! After all that, it was very messy to eat and didn’t even taste all that great. So, it was a no-go.

I may or may not tinker with it to make it worth the effort. If I get it perfected, I’ll be sure to share it with you. Until then, here’s an excerpt from my very first article, written over twenty years ago.

If the shoe fits . . . If at first you don’t succeed . . . If you have fish sticks . . .

The second half of the first two sentences is well-known, if not downright obvious. The third one, however, is not so easy to complete. This is especially true if you never asked for fish sticks in the first place.

As a member of a disaster relief team, I have learned how important it is to be flexible. For instance, in this situation, we ordered canned tuna. We received fish sticks. Both are good, but hardly interchangeable in recipes.

My mentor within the team was an experienced cook with a collection of some very interesting recipes. She suggested we make Fish Chowder. This presented a new problem because of the breading on the fish sticks. Never wanting to waste food, and being long on volunteer labor, the decision was made to ‘peel’ the fish sticks. The result? Excellent chowder!

FISH CHOWDER

2-3 lbs. white fish, cut into cubes (may substitute chicken breast, turkey or lean pork)

5 or 6 stalks celery, chopped

1 stick margarine

2 medium onions, chopped

1 tsp. salt and pepper to taste

2 cans chicken broth

1 package carrots, sliced thin

4 – 5 potatoes, sliced thin

1 to 1 ½ gallons milk (use some ½ and ½ for extra flavor)

2 cans cream style corn

3 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese (cubed)

Place first four ingredients in large stewpot. Cook until vegetables are soft. Add the next four listed ingredients. Cook until Vegetables are tender. (A one gallon can mixed vegetables may be substituted for the carrots and potatoes.) Add milk and corn. Cook until well-heated. Add cream cheese. Cook until melted and blended. Add instant mashed potatoes to desired thickness. Optional seasonings: garlic, parsley flakes and basil. Serves approximately 25.

So, if the shoe fits, wear it. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. And if you have fish sticks, make chowder!