This is one of those blog posts where I'm going to go rogue. That is, I'm going to do something I haven't done before...
In Sweet Summer, Tyler has moved back in with his elderly parents because his mother suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Dementia can come from a number of diseases, including Alzheimer's but symptoms can occur as a result of Parkinson's, a stroke, and more. Further, some acute illnesses or deficiencies (a high fever, kidney infection, B Vitamin deficiency) can produce the symptoms and need to be checked before arriving at an Alzheimer's diagnosis (this paragraph is courtesy of the psychologist side of my life).
Regardless of the cause, the symptoms can be devastating to the person and his or her loved ones. My mother-in-law suffered from dementia in her later years. She went from being my very sweet second mom to a woman who snapped at people and even cursed.
That's not how I want to remember her. Instead, I want to remember the delicious meals she prepared--she grew in Algiers, Louisiana and made some red beans and rice and more. She married an Italian who grew up some of the time in Sicily and some of the time in New York City. The recipe I'm sharing below is from the Italian side. When I met her, she was already in her 60s (my husband was a late baby), but when I had my babies, she came and stayed for weeks. She was a God send and I miss her.
So, this week, let's remember and honor our loved ones who have gone on before. Love to all.
Grandma Sinisi's Asparagus:
There are no amounts. It's that kind of recipe.
Boil asparagus until tender.
Put several eggs (number depends on how much asparagus you're making) in a medium-sized bowl and mix until smooth. Shake Italian breadcrumbs across the top, covering the surface. Do the same with freshly-grated Romano cheese. Mix until smooth.
Pour a mixture of olive and vegetable oil in a large skillet about 1 1/2 inches deep. Heat.
Place asparagus in egg mixture. Using a fork, pick up two or three asparagus at a time allowing them to stick together like fence posts and fry. Put extra egg mixture in between them if needed.
Fry until golden brown.
God bless!