Real Food: A Foodie Musing
What is”Real Food”? Real food means something very different for every cook or chef, because we all come to food through our life experiences. Usually the cuisine you are the most comfortable with or enjoy the most influences the type of food you cook.
For me, real food has always meant, home cooked Italian or Mediterranean food. I grew up in a large Italian immigrant family which meant I ate a lot of Italian food as a young child. Growing up in the Washington, DC area I was exposed to a huge plethora of ethnic foods and what struck me most was how similar Italian food was to say Greek, Turkish and other Mediterranean cuisines. The only difference was changing up the herbs and spices. The principles of Mediterranean food, including Italian is usually rustic, fresh dishes full of vegetables, meat, grains and of course the liquid gold commonly referred to as olive oil. There is also a common thread running through them to use what you have on hand and of preserving foods so when they are not in season you can still enjoy them.
I have always believed you can make the ordinary extraordinary. We all have things that we keep on hand in our fridge or pantry – those go to items that when there is little else, you can still make a meal interesting and inventive. This is what lead me to call my blog “The Left-Over Queen†because I try to never throw food away, but I never eat the same food the same way twice – it changes here and there depending on what is on hand at the moment I am going to cook something.
For me, whenever I have products in my pantry or fridge, even if they are not necessarily Mediterranean, I usually “doctor them up” to give them more of that flavor I so enjoy. These are little things I do on a daily basis that I don’t normally post about because they aren’t really recipes, just small touches to foods that are pre-existing. You can take simple ingredients, condiments or things from the pantry and really change them just by adding herbs or spices that are not usually associated with the food, to give it a unique and different flavor.
For example, I love sweet potato fries and I enjoy making them at home so I can bake them, reducing the fat. I slice my potatoes into skinny fries, toss them with olive oil, sea salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and either rosemary or oregano. I bake them in the oven at 425F for about 20-25 minutes. While they are baking, I create a dipping sauce using 1 part mayonnaise to 1 part Greek yogurt. Then I stir in the zest of one lemon, 1 TBS of fresh basil and about 2 cloves of garlic finely chopped. Mix it all together and dip the fries in them! It is a delicious combination that I can quickly whip together because I usually have these ingredients on hand. I usually make extra as well as it goes great on sandwiches, vegetables and even fish.
So for me this is what real food is all about – using ingredients I have on hand and adding special touches to foods that everyone has. This doesn’t mean I don’t buy special ingredients for certain meals, but in a pinch I know I can always make something ordinary, unique and un-commonly delicious!
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Peter - August 8, 2007 at 4:31 am
Bang on with my sentiments Jenn, just insert Greek boy enjoying all of the Mediterranean ingredients.
Truffle - August 8, 2007 at 4:40 am
Beautifully written and really well put! For me real food is all about fresh produce and minimal processed ingredients. I think your sweet potato fries recipe sounds fabulous!
sognatrice - August 8, 2007 at 6:08 am
Wonderfully expressed. I know you don’t consider some of the things you do recipes per se, but I do hope you’ll share your doctorings in the future.
I struggled over this issue with my blog as well because so many things I make are on the spot, whatever I have, throw it in, and then wow! Through the blog, it has occurred to me, though, that not everyone does this (perhaps lacking the confidence or willing guinea pigs to try different things?), so I do think it’s helpful to post the touch-ups as well–gives people ideas they may not have thought of otherwise, but even more importantly, it may actually get them *in* the kitchen if they see how easy good, “real” food really is to prepare 🙂
Brava for a great post!
The Leftover Queen - August 8, 2007 at 8:57 am
Hi Peter! I should have guessed that you came from a similar food philosophy considering I love your blog!
Hi Truffle! I agree, the more processing the worse the food is for you. Get it local, eat it fresh! Hope you enjoy the fries!
Sognatrice! Thank you. I am not surprised we agree on this, as we have a similar mind on a lot of things! I will post about my “docotings” in the future! Keep posting those recipes yourself!
Figs Olives Wine - August 8, 2007 at 10:39 am
You’re talking about proper home cooking here: No rules. Just using what’s available and setting things aside to make sure there will always be something to eat during leaner times. I love this.
Posted my Rockin’ Girl Blogger nominations this morning by the way. Thanks again so much for thinking of me!
Jeff - August 8, 2007 at 10:47 am
Man, you are lookin’ bad ass in that picture!!
Valli - August 8, 2007 at 10:53 am
I love, love love sweet potato or yam fries. I like the addition of a litte oregano in keeping with my love of all things Greek as well.I think that we are born with the love of good food. My mom was not a good cook..in fact it was a chore for her to come up with anything edible for us to eat. Sorry mom! You knew what day of the week it was by what was on the table. She has said that her mom was an excellent cook, so perhaps the gene is there and it just skipped a generation. My eldest brother loves innovative recipes as well. My daughter is an excellent cook and surpasses me. I love reading your posts so keep them coming!!!
The Leftover Queen - August 8, 2007 at 2:28 pm
Hi Amanda! Yep that is pretty much what it is all about for me! This is the exact reason why I would not want to be a chef in a restaurant – too restraining!
Thanks Jeff!
Hi Valli! Well I guess we can all feel lucky that you got the “foodie gene” – as you have some great food ideas!
Naptime Writer - August 8, 2007 at 3:17 pm
I’m the world’s worst chef but you’re sweet potato fries have me itching to bake! Can’t wait to try them. Jo (thanks for stopping by my blog!)
The Leftover Queen - August 8, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Thanks Jo! Please let me know how they turn out for you!
Cynthia - August 8, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Well said Jenn and as Amanda said, you’re talking here about proper home cooking. Real food for me is the foods that provide the most comfort and satisfaction which are usually homemade.
Cris - August 8, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Home food, comfort food, these are connected to me… And well, you are so inventive to me with everything you do, love the way you express yourself.
Sylvia - August 9, 2007 at 6:32 am
Amazing post Jenn,and I completely agree whit you.And I almost forgot I love, love sweet potatoes fried
The Leftover Queen - August 9, 2007 at 8:44 am
Well I am really happy I write this article as it has been a backdrop for these wonderful insightful comments!
Cynthia! Yes, I agree with homemade foods being the best for me personally. I think that is because you can really feel that ingredient missing in so many other foods – love.
Hi Cris! Yes, comfort food! That is the word! Thank you so much for your kindness.
Hi Sylvia! Thank you! Yes, I love sweet poatoes fried! They are delicious!
Wendy - August 9, 2007 at 5:21 pm
“Real food” is a funny phrase, isn’t it? The meat-and-potatoes people in my life wouldn’t consider the lentils, couscous, spices, herbs etc that I normally eat to be “real” at all! But I do. 🙂
Holler - August 16, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Hi Jenn,
Good post!
I like the sound of the lighter dip for sweet potato fries. I have some sweet potatoes left, so I will give it a go! I used some of my sweet potatoes last night to make spicy orange soup. It was yummy! I am sure Graham will be pleased if I follow that up with fries and dip!
The Leftover Queen - August 16, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Hey Wendy! I can’t believe I missed your comment! Ack! Real food is kind of a funny phrase! I certainly believe that lentils and cous cous qualify as real food!
Hey Holler! Thanks! Yes, I hope you enjoy them! I am going to head over and check out your yummy sounding soup!