Friends in Need - Oh and in Food, Too!

I have an old friend that I haven't seen in years and hadn't spoken to in several months until just a few weeks ago. You know how it goes - life happens, geogrpahy and obligations tear us apart but the old lasting love is still there as I think it can only be with girlfriends. Manny and I were living in San Diego 10 years ago and we became inseparable friends. She is a very talented artistic and crafts sort of person whereas my only artistic endeavor is cooking. She tried to teach me to make soap once but when she brought out the lye I balked - see I'm kinda clutzy so Karen + Lye = emergency room and I thought I'd spare everyone that particular hell.

We both cooked, however, so cooking together was a natural for us. Amanda (Manny) was the grill queen and I was more a master of the indoor stove. When Manny found out about my cancer and the difficulties it was causing with eating and maintaining my weight, she set out on a mission. Manny and I used to put away prodigious amounts of rice and seafood at our favorite sushi joint, though I never recall her cooking Asian food much at home, she took me on my first trip to 99 Ranch Market back in 2001. I was in love at first sight. This market is thousands of square feet of every asian ingredient I had ever heard of in addition to massive live fish tanks and a butcher. A far cry from visiting 8 different corner asian market so find what I was looking for. It was to 99 Ranch that Manny returned to fix up a care package for me. And what a care package it was!

She had obviously given specific care to select items that would not only tempt my apathetic palate but would provide me with nutritional bang for the buck. Most of the treats I was already familiar with ; miso soup, soy crackers, sardines packed in a variety of delicious oils & spices, spicy peppers, nuts, soba noodles etc. But she threw in a few things I had not seen before, which I have since added to favorites; red cargo rice - a lovely nutty flavor that is chock full of iron, canned spicy mussels - full of protein, salted crunchy soy beans and broad beans and these wonderfully spiced bamboo shoots in a jar! The best part about most of the foods is that they are ready to eat (or nearly), big flavors and plenty of iron, protein and vitamins that my body needs to heal properly. Of course she also tossed in some chipotle and some salsas because while my mantra in the kitchen is garlic, hers is peppers!

This box, that arrived at my front door was like getting a hug from Manny. the love and care in the box was palpable and as I am sitting here eating the miso soup (to which I have added extra tofu) that came in the mail, I think of just how lucky I am to have such a dear friend. Even as the years pass and we don't get to see each other as much or talk as much, the love is still deep and abiding. Girls just rock don't they? (Especially my friends!) OK so now I have to go wipe my nose and prepare my wedding invitations so that Manny can get even with me for her wedding - sorry, long story for another day!