It tastes like home

Whenever I feel home sick and miss my family I think about what it is I am missing. It could be a place, like the beach, or my friends, or all my favorite foods my mom makes when I am there. I love her cooking. I know a lot of us feel this way. No one makes foods quite like my mom. When I was younger, my mom tried to teach me how to cook. I resisted. I never would cook while I lived at home. Bake maybe, cook never. When I moved out and moved away from home I realized how silly I had been. I should have listened to my mother and learned. It would have saved me from having to eat lots of ramen noodles and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Oh well, it did make me realize that even though I probably would have eaten better I probably would not have come to love food as much as I do now. There is nothing more satisfying than creating a dish with your own two hands.

Yesterday was my mom's birthday and while talking to her and wishing her happy birthday she told me all of the foods she was creating for her party. First, I asked her why she was cooking for herself? She told me none of her friends really cooked and she wanted good food. Oh, I said I wish I were there enjoying your good food too! I also would have liked to have been there for her birthday but tickets are expensive and she lives too far to drive. I sent her my love and told her I would call her later because she was getting ready for her party and my dad was trying to fix the grill.

It got me thinking about all the foods she used to cook for me but I still do not know how to make. I already made one of my childhood favorites, pad thai, the other day. What could I make today that sounded good? My mom gave me the idea when she told me the dishes she was making for her party. Sweet sticky rice with mango. I always loved that dessert and it makes me think of my childhood and good times with my mom.
I decided to make it today for myself for the first time. It actually came out really well. It tasted like home.
Every time I eat this dish I am home. What could be better than that besides the obvious? What dish do you that makes you feel like your home?

I hope you try this dish and feel something special.

Sweet Sticky Rice with Mango

Ingredients
2 c long grain sticky rice
1 14 oz can of coconut milk
1/2 c sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1-2 mangoes peeled and diced

Directions
Rinse the rice a couple of times and soak for 6hrs to overnight. This softens the rice so don't skip this step. After soaking the rice drain and rinse again. Pour rice into steamer basket and set over a pot of boiling water. You need a couple of inches of water in the pot. You are going to dry steam the rice. Place a cloth over the basket and steam for 30 minutes.

Mix the rice about 20 minutes into the steaming process and add a little bit of water over the top the rice. Stir. While the rice is steaming heat the coconut milk, sugar, and salt together and set aside. When the rice is done steaming, (check and make sure rice is cooked all the way through. It may need a few more moments)

put rice in a bowl and pour half of the coconut mixture on top and stir. The rice should be wet but not soaked. If all the rice is not coated with the sauce add a little more.

 Let it sit for 15-20 minutes until the coconut mixture is absorbed. Top it with mango and enjoy. You can add a little more of the coconut sauce on top if desired. I usually do because it tastes so good:)