Lunchtime at work is always an adventure. Sometimes I sit on a chair alone in the front gallery and quietly eat my brown bagged lunch. Other times there is a rowdy crew squishing around a small table diving into a culinary treat. It depends on what the mood and workload is...or if someone has made a special dish for the crew. Sometimes once of us gets inspired and is kind enough to share. Other times someone makes a feast as a gift to us all...
Christa is perhaps one of the nicest and kindest souls the planet has ever known. She usually brings a small container of yogurt and eats quickly by herself. If we are lucky she takes a long enough break to join us. This time she made us a meal that made us feel like we were celebrating a beautiful holiday. It came about because one day she mentioned a family recipe and asked the silly question, "Would you like me to make it?". We had a good giggle over that one.
She went so far as to write up a little recipe card that had the following story:
Flemish Beef Stew
"Beef stew cooked in beer has long been of the culinary heritage of Belgium, and is still one of he most popular stews in the Flanders. Through the ages, the recipe has varied, and every mother passes on her "secret" to her children. My mother liked to add sweet gherkins, which certainly gives the stew a more distinctive flavor. "
The dish was absolutely delicious. We ate it with some red potatoes sauteed in olive oil and herbs and a fresh loaf of asiago cheese bread. Seven of us sat around the table and ate and laughed and shared stories. I think we should make it an annual event...but even if we don't she sure did make one regular old Thursday feel like something very special!
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