Sweet Abundance: Food for the Stomach and Soul
By Kay Habana
This past Saturday, I enjoyed cooking this dish in preparation for our concert entitled “Gloria” that evening. The moment I started shredding crab meat, it felt like not so long ago from the first time I concocted this recipe. I remember vividly, it was two months before I was set to give birth to my son when I prepared a bunch of comestibles for a party held at home. This particular one was instantly a crowd-favorite.
Come to think of it, my son and my home-based catering business share the same birthday. Well, how timely! Five days from now, my young man will turn 11. No wonder my hands had craved to integrate the astute mix of this dish’s composition: crab meat, green bell peppers, cabbage, and onions, to name a few. As we know, not too many kids are a fan of vegetables. Correspondingly, I had to come up with methods of working a recipe that would not only taste good, but deliver health benefits, be economical, and is kid-friendly, too.
Sure enough, when my son learned to eat solid foods, he immediately fell in love with this one. I would have never guessed that my motherly instinct must have been on guard for me to chance upon the thought of actually cooking crab and veggie patties that day.
While frying the patties, I found myself smiling a lot. I slowly browsed the mental library of photos and stories of the years gone by—how I’ve grown a little older, learned a little bit more, and become much stronger. Thanks to both happy and sad experiences that life had to offer. It continues to give me more; only, so much more of what brings a smile to my face.
Over the years, I have prepared and cooked thousands of crab and veggie patties not only for family and friends, but for my neighbors and clients, too. I have added many other recipes that loved ones and clients, alike, have grown to adore and indulge in. But one thing has remained constant— the heaping cups of love in every dish, prepared by a mother whose heart and thoughts are permanently anchored in her son’s delight.
(Happiest Birthday to my only son and the eternal love of my life—Baby Kael!)
About the Writer:
Kay Habana is a classical singer and a great cook rolled into one. But she is a writer too. This first article is her homecoming to the field of Journalism and OSM! welcomes her with delight. Kay lives in New York City.
She can be reached at sweethabanacatering@gmail.com and Facebook.com/sweethabanacatering.
Leave a Reply