My
family has little trouble learning new scientific words, but sometimes we
struggle to learn about culture. Here is
my latest attempt to broaden the minds of my family, to take them, at least in
a culinary fashion, to distant lands.
Recently
I found in my pantry a food called quinoa. It originates in South America. The box says it is pronounced
“keen-wah”. I was delighted to discover
that it can be made in the rice cooker.
So I served it for dinner that night, and got the following response.
Youngest Daughter: What is this?
Is it rice?
Me: No, it’s quinoa. Try a little bit.
YD: Okay.
(after dinner)
Youngest Daughter: When are we going to have that onomagora
again?
Me: The what?
*
* * * *
(The next day)
Youngest Daughter: When are we having quinceaños again?
Me: What? Your
brother is already 16. And you are going
to turn 13.
YD: You know, the grain thing. The keegodooga. The kee-wa.
Me: Oh!
The quinoa.
*
* * * *
(Three days later, with Oldest
Daughter home from spring break)
The Common Household
Husband: Are we going to have that stuff for
dinner? I liked that stuff.
Me: What stuff?
Husband: The chemo.
Oldest Daughter (perhaps regretting that she had to leave the college dining hall
behind for a week): Chemo?! We’re
having chemo for dinner?!
Husband: The oxymoron.... the occlumency... the
quimby...
Me: Do you mean quinoa?
Oldest Daughter: So, Mom, does this mean that you finally
served that quinoa that we bought last time I was home? (She
pronounced it “kee-NO-ah,” which is probably also correct.)
(at dinner that evening)
Youngest Daughter: Please pass el wonkee.
Husband, speaking
authoritatively: It’s called ‘quantos’.
*
* *
You
will notice that my son did not comment.
This is because he only endorses meat, cheese and bread. The rest of the Common Household
enthusiastically recommends quinoa, whether or not you can pronounce it. It’s gluten free!
7 comments:
I had to read that out loud to my daughter, and I was laughing so much I could hardly get it out! Now she wants me to read it to Rob :-)
Okay, now I read it to Rob, still laughing very hard, and we've decided that we'd like to have dinner with your family :-)
We love quinoa. I love the new photo on your blog, too. Tell us about it.
was it flavored or what?!
Cassi Renee, I am glad you enjoyed my family's repartee. Maybe someday we can get together for dinner! I will have to be sure to serve quinoa.
Joanie - the first time I made it, it was plain. But it tastes quite flavorful that way. The second time, we added some sauteed vegetables and made a sort of pilau (pilaf) out of it. Either way, it was good!
We love quinoa as well! Its great in soups.
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