A Childhood Bit and Pieces

A Childhood Home

My parents’ house is in a gorgeous mountain area called Aley, Lebanon; our house was surrounded by vine trees, walnut trees, two cherry trees, and lots of vegetables – Mom was so proud that she could make a colorful bowl of salad from her veggie garden- and a lovely herbal garden. But my best place to spend my time was in her roses and carnation garden. The house was buried with flowers of different colors.
My parents, the most generous people on earth, hosted lunches and dinners for their families and relatives monthly and bi-monthly. Afterward, when money became less, they started hosting Christmas and New Year’s parties, Al-Adha, and dinners from time to time based on their financial state.
One of my vivid memories of my childhood is the voices of people in my mom’s enormous kitchen helping her prepare the meals, and the smell of the delicious Lebanese Mezze, with the music of Fairuz songs; Mom always listened to Fairuz in the morning, with loud volume, as if no one else was inhabiting the house.
The moment she saw me leaving the room in the morning, she asked me to do many chores, including taking care of my younger sisters. “Oh! Good morning darling. Isn’t it a bit too late? We have guests over, and I need your help.” That was it; I got trapped in her plans for the day; she had expectations everyone should meet. “Good morning, Mom; yes, sure, how can I help?”.

A Memory of a Cabbage

I wouldn’t say I like Cabbage, starting from the smell and ending with bloating it causes after digestion. But if you are at one of my mom’s dinners, you will ask her for the recipe for the stuffed cabbage rolls she offers in all her dinners. She knew that no one could cook them better than her. She always told people that the secret is in the garlic, which is one of my few enemies as garlic can kill me as I have hypotension, making me almost faint every time I eat it. Ok then, the stuffed cabbage roll set my relationship with my mom; it looks perfect but somehow causes me exhaustion.
Away from my bad relationship with Stuffed Cabbage Rolls, or as we say it in Lebanon, Malfouf Mahshi, I must admit it's delicious. The best part is when we plunge it in the pomegranate molasses, ignore the table manner, and stuff it all in our mouths.
I tried to cook Stuffed Cabbage Rolls in one of my dinners, and it was just fine, but being smart is knowing our limitations and respecting them; well, I never tried again. But nothing is more delicious than the food that moms make that mixes with memories, nostalgia, and a warm house.

Dana Obeid