Do certain foods remind you of times, places or friends in your life?

I used to hang out with a guy named Nick. He was as weird as me and we got along well most of the time. He didn't put up with my B.S and told me what was up. The first night I met him I was with some friends at a bar. This random kinda scruffy unkempt (although kinda cute)guy came up to us, making fun that we were all on our cell phones at the same time. At the time I was in a too cool mode and would usually say something really snarky or throw pretzels at the loser. But before I could say something really insulting I took a second look at this jerk and saw a food stain covered shirt, curly haired, salami smelling weirdo smiling a genuine smile and instead began to laugh. I asked him to join us and was glad I did. Nick was smart, funny and could do the "worm" at the drop of a hat. I soon found out that doing the worm on a disgusting bar floor wasn't his best talent. By the end of the night I had many beers, many laughs and was beyond thrilled to make the acquaintance of a strange and cool new friend. We talked (and drank) for what it seemed hours about his desire to live on a self-sustaining farm and create (besides many things) his own beer and cheese.

Nick and I started hanging out when I lived in a crappy little apartment in Harlem. It was a tough time in my life and he helped me through it in his own special way. He would leave his busy midtown apartment to my dingy dangerous neighborhood just to cook with me. As I answered the door I couldn't wait to see him, always sweaty and smelling like cigarettes, beer, onions and curry. Sounds gross but it was endearing. We would spend a couple hours together talking about life and food while drinking beer and making the best chicken and spinach curry I had every tasted. Then he would roll his cigarettes and we would walk my little dog around the neighborhood past the drug dealers, hookers and rats like we were the only people in the world. Those were good days.

Again, I went on a bit of a tangent. As my pregnant belly gets bigger and my emotions surge, nervous about the future I sometimes think about people I knew and places I've been. I miss my friend Nick. No, he is not dead or strung out or anything morbid like that. Our paths have changed and I have not seen him for a very long time. The last time I spoke to him he told me he was still trying to full-fill his dream of living on a self sustaining farm. I smile and hope he does. I really want to taste that cheese he's created. In honor of my friend Nick, tomorrow I am going to delicious chicken and spinach curry for dinner. Watch out for the pics...

Hanging out with my man and a couple of friends during the start of Hurricane Irene. I have all this nervous energy waiting and watching the news. So instead of biting my nails I wash my hands and start to cook. I make all my favorite easy finger foods marinated chicken tenders, deviled eggs and mozzarella with tomato and basil. Yum. Now it's time to cuddle and get ready for the storm.

Free Style Foodie-Bored Outta My Mind

I started this blog with great intentions. I thought, "I can change the world one fellow foodie at a time". I was excited about all the recipes I could create and restaurants I could make or break with my thoughtful critique. Ummm... Well, if you know anything about me I get bored easily and change my mind more often than I change my undies. That could be considered bad hygiene on my part but really I change my mind a lot, all day, multiple times a day (and usually don't wear undies if I'm not leaving the house). One could say I have an attention disorder. I say I don't like to be chained down. Well, at least in what I eat (wink, wink). I do want to get this ball rolling. Man, I have a dirty mind and just thought of 3 jokes that could go with that last sentence. I digress...

Being unemployed and pregnant affords me (one of the few things) is too much time on my hands and therefore too much food in my hands. I think about food all day long.  I daydream about all the smells and textures and possibilities of grandiose exotic and delicious creations. I am drooling right now...  Sometimes I get overwhelmed with deciding what to eat, what to cook or what restaurant I want to go to that I panic and eat everything in the cabinets.  By the time my loving fiance gets home, hungry after a long day at work excited about what delicious meal I prepared for him (and how clean the house will be).  His beautiful blue eyes lower and he smiles his sweet smile as he realizes its "gonna be one of those days".  I am sprawled out on the couch overly full and exhausted trying to hide the remains of my chips and salsa bender while watching re-runs of the Millionaire Matchmaker or New Jersey Housewives. Honey I'm home, doesn't carry the same humor and romantic connotation  it did when Ricky came home to Lucy.  As my man opens the fridge and takes out leftovers from yesterday's masterpiece and sits next to me and rubs my belly, I know I am the luckiest foodie in the world. He may not be getting a hot meal tonight but dessert is definitely a possibility...