Mom Diaries: Press "3" for Dead Mom

Yesterday morning, Mothers Day Brunch. Blair, Mom, and me are sitting around the dining room table, nibbling on the last of the rum-soaked tropical french toast Blair had prepared. We were talking about Blair and my upcoming trip to Russia. Mom asked if we were going to see Lennin's body. We are not. I don't want to take a 14-hour flight just to look at a corpse. 

The conversation then somehow turned to what we all want done with our bodies upon our deaths. Blair and I both want to be creamated, and Mom reminded us that she wants her body donated to science. She'd registered herself as a donor earlier this year. 

"It's simple," she said yesterday. "You just make a phone call and they handle everything. They'll come pick up the body, transport it, and send you the cremated remains of what they don't use. You don't have to do a thing and it's free." 

"Well where is this magic phone number?" I asked. "You need to have it ready because I don't picture me taking the time to dig through your paperwork looking for it with a dead body in the house."

"I don't think this is appropriate Mother's Day conversation," said Blair. 

"No, no, it's fine," said Mom, waving away his concern. "Dena, I'll find the number and set it out." 

I snorted laughter. "What?" asked Mom even as Blair shook his head.

"Sorry," I said. "I was just thinking I could, you know, put the number in speed dial. So I'll be ready..."

Blair groaned and Mom and I burst out laughing. "Mom's dead," she said, wiping her eyes. "Press '3.'"

"Or you could do voice recognition," said Blair, who apparently decided if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. He mimicked holding up a cell phone and speaking slowly and distinctly into it. "MOM'S DEAD." 

"Did you say, 'bed head?'" I asked, imitating the monotone of the phone recognition software.

"No. MOM'S. DEAD." said Blair. 

"Did you say, 'Mark's Head?'"

"No. DEAD. MOM'S DEAD." 

"Calling, Mom's Dead." 

We were all in tears, we were laughing so hard. 

Anyway, that's what passes for Mother's Day around our house. Hope yours was love and fun filled as well!

Cheers,

Dena 

One-Dish Vegetarian Meals

I was watching an episode of The Biggest Loser and one of the trainers was showing the contestants how to make a simple quinoa dish. I was thrilled. Finally, mainstream TV is catching up to my way of eating. Then the trainer said, "This makes a wonderful side dish to any meal."

Wha--? The dish had quinoa, veggies, and beans, a complete meal in and of itself. Do we have to stick in a side of chicken with that?

I think, however, the one-dish meal is a big adjustment for anyone looking to switch over to a vegetarian lifestyle. My mom mentioned the other day that while she enjoys many of the meals I make, she misses having several things on her plate to choose from -- green beans at two o'clock, mashed potatoes at four, salad, meat, etc. 

I hadn't thought about it, but it's true. Most of what I make are one-dish meals. The vegetarian recipes I use usually contain beans, greens, and a grain so it doesn't seem worth it to--I don't know--dump a can of corn or some other vegetable on the plate as a side. Not that I couldn't; it just never occurs to me to do so. 

It's not always that way. This week for example we had veggie burgers with a side of roasted brussel sprouts. But last night I made a big spinach salad and after carmelizing the onions, toasting the walnuts, and broiling my own homemade bread crumbs, hell if I was going to put any effort into making a side dish. 

How do you eat at home? Vegetarian or not, do you prepare a main course and side dishes for each meal or do you trend, as I do, toward more one-dish wonders?

Cheers,

Dena