Tasting the flavors of life

Written by Robin Glowa
Wednesday, 29 February 2012 00:00

“Sweet, sour, bitter, pungent — all must be tasted.”

— Chinese proverb

Have you ever thought about what life tastes like? The sweetness of new romance that lingers on the tongue like slowly dissolving sugar, the sour taste of disappointment, the bitter taste of disillusionment and the pungent taste of excitement and discovery?

Food is intricately wound around our lives in a myriad of ways. One day we may be tantalized and titillated by life’s flavors, and the next, we may experience a palate of displeasure. Think about all the important food moments of your life, your first taste of an ice cream cone, your wedding cake, the steaming, soothing comfort of chicken soup when you were sick.

I have been pondering the importance of really tasting food lately, truly tasting the importance of life and the joys and trials that come with preparing a delicious life.

I am starting work on a book about tasting life, and I invite my readers to e-mail me their important memory invoking recipes and tell me the significance of that food in your life. I think there must be thousands of astonishing food tales out there, and I am going to start compiling them.

My journey involves finding ways to live life as healthfully as possible, on all levels. To accomplish this, I am always seeking new ingredients, new methods, new techniques and new possibilities. Most recently I have been seduced by Meyer Lemons.

Attracted to their glowing, orange-yellow hue and a sweeter, less acidic flavor than regular lemons, I picked one up in Whole Foods.

Bringing my prize home, I began researching its attributes as one might do with a potential Match.com lover. My new darling is apparently a culinary crossbreed of lemons and mandarin oranges, and can be stored on the countertop, out of the sunlight, for up to five days.

A big bowlful would make a bright, lovely centerpiece during these winter days. I have also discovered that my Meyer makes a far superior lemonade to any I have ever tasted, and requires much less sugar.

I now start each new day with a cup of very hot water mixed with a 1/4 cup of Meyer Lemon juice. This combination warms and soothes me, provides a wonderful dose of anti-aging and disease preventative antioxidants, while cleansing and detoxifying my liver.

I’m scheduling more kitchen time with my Meyer, to savor new flavors and continue on my quest to truly taste life.

Luscious Meyer Lemonade

Serves 4

2 cups fresh squeezed Meyer Lemon juice (about 12-16 lemons)

2 cups water

1/3 cup sugar

Combine all ingredients and let chill. Serve over cracked ice with a sprig or two of mint, or heat and serve warm in a mug.

Robin Glowa, HHC, AADP, is a food and wellness professional who earned her certification in holistic health counseling from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and Columbia University Teachers College. She specializes in teaching healthy cooking classes for children and adults, as well as cooking presentations and wellness workshops for many local organizations. For more information go to theconsciouscook.net, call 203-393-1037, or go to http://confessionsofaconsciouscook.blogspot.com