Mimi's Kitchen is back - and so is mine, finally! I unpacked all the boxes and put Mimi's Kitchen back in its rightful spot, in the place where I keep the few cookbooks I actually use and a perch which allows Mom to take in all the splendor of my new kitchen. Mimi would have loved this kitchen and it would have been the first kitchen I've had that Mimi remotely liked. Pete and I have lived in some really cool spots, but they were always older, had a ton of charm and needed some work. Somehow, Mom tended to focus on all the work we needed to do and made no bones about expressing her opinion. She was very good at that.
Mimi had a hard time entering any one's home and not rearranging their furniture or advising them on the window treatments they needed to complete a room. I, on the other hand, have always gone for more of a minimalist style and would much rather wait and put up the custom window treatments I really want than slap up some store bought drapes. Same thing with art - drove Mom crazy that we had empty walls. But I didn't want to run out and buy some crap just to fill the space and we've managed to purchase some very cool, very meaningful pieces over the years. It used to really hurt me when Mom made all these comments because it wasn't like Pete and I were living in some cheap lean-to. We just happened to select expensive areas in which to live, filled with old homes which need a ton of work, and we took our time making the changes we wanted.
Bottom line, I never felt I measured up to Mom's expectations. And I have done a lot, and I mean A LOT, of reflecting on this aspect of my relationship with Mom over the past few years. Pete was really helpful during this time as he always had a great, neutral outlook and he pushed me to come to terms with my relationship with Mom before she died. Honestly, if it wasn't for Pete, Mom may have left this world not knowing how I really felt because I had a very hard time verbalizing my feelings. But I did, and I came to terms with the fact that she was a mother looking out for the best interest of her eldest daughter and wanting nothing but the best for me and my family. And I had some amazing conversations with Mom in the days before she died. And I found peace, as did she.
So as I celebrate the first Mother's Day with my mom in heaven, I am going to have a cookout and make her potato salad. One of my favorites growing up - always reminds me of summer at the shore. The kids tell me that I make the best potatoes because I'm Irish. Mimi would be proud. And I now know that she always was. Love you Mom!
Potato Salad
5-6 medium, cooked potatoes, cubed (I use red potatoes)
1 cup mayonnaise
2-3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
2-3 Tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp celery salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup thinly sliced celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 hard boiled eggs, sliced (optional)
In large bowl, combine the mayo, vinegar, celery salt, sugar, pepper. Taste to make sure it's right. Add vinegar and sugar to taste (you want a little zing to the dressing). Add potatoes, celery and onion. Mix well. Top with egg and refrigerate.
