Let’s talk about cravings. How often has a smell or a memory triggered an intense desire for a certain flavor or dish? For someone as obsessed with food as I am, this happens all the time. And who are we kidding… most cravings aren’t for baby carrots or a nice juicy apple (the random times that they are I celebrate). No no, my cravings more often come in the form of warm apple pie or mac and cheese that’s rich and creamy, with the melted cheese stretching from the fork and a panko crust that’s just a touch burnt on top. Sometimes I am able to create a healthy alternative that gets at the root of the craving (examples here and here). Other times I will give in, eat really healthy during the day, and indulge in the real thing… and more often than not in this scenario I end up disappointed because it’s never as good as the version I dreamed up that initially triggered the craving. Isn’t that the worst?
Ahh, but then there is that magical one off time when the dish that you dream of exists in real life and it takes 2 days to convince your husband to go on a food adventure with you, and it’s just spectacular. This is a story about one of those times.