The Sweetness of Friends
A Recipe
The Sweetness of Friends
When I was raising young children, I was told by an especially social neighbor, “If you want a friend, you have to be a friend.”
My mother’s advice as I was growing up was quite different.
“Friends are fickle,” she said. “They’ll use you and then throw you away like an old rag.”
While I never believed my mother, she must have gotten her point across. I don’t make friends easily. I’m cautious, a loner. I built a wall around my heart to keep from getting hurt and in the process pushed people away. I marvel now at how I became friends with Mary who taught me how to be a friend. We bonded over food, both working in the supermarket business. When I visit, she makes me the most delicious foods.
As I take the first bite of salad, I ask, “What gives the dressing such a sweetness?”
“My secret ingredient,” she teases.
The salad is a mixture of greens, diced fresh pears, blue cheese, and toasted walnuts. This combination while not all that unique is tossed together with an exquisite vinaigrette.
“Sugar? Honey? Corn syrup?
“Nope, no sugar or sweeteners of any kind.”
Now my interest is piqued. This is my friend who thinks nothing of baking ten apple pies in a day, or frying up twenty pounds of chicken cutlets, or one day for my birthday, fixing a stuffed veal breast I’ll remember for the rest of my life. Today we’re having the salad, chicken parm, and apple pie.
Mary knows she is going to have to share her recipe for the dressing but she’s holding out as we enjoy every bite of the salad. Maybe if I stop asking, she’ll drop a few hints.
“It’s just a simple oil and vinegar,” she shrugs.
“No way, I’ve made a million vinaigrettes. There’s something new here.”
“Oh, all right. It’s balsamic vinegar,” she admits.
“I’ve never tasted balsamic vinegar like this. Where’s the dark color?”
Then Mary gives me what I’m looking for, “I used white balsamic vinegar, it has a natural sweetness.”
“Really? I’ve never used white balsamic vinegar. If I saw it on the grocery shelf, I would expect it to be like the red.”
The proof is on the tongue and in the taste buds. The secret to the sweet and tangy goodness pulling the whole salad together is the vinegar. Like the introduction of an ingredient that can transform a simple salad into a memorable dinner, this night becomes magical when shared with my dear friend.
White Balsamic Vinaigrette
½ Cup olive oil
¼ Cup white balsamic vinegar
Pinch of fresh or dried herbs such as thyme
Add salt, pepper to taste. Shake together and serve with greens.
Add chopped fresh pears, blue cheese, and toasted walnuts
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Remember, There’s No Expiration on Dreams
Trish