I have to do most of my Mom's cooking now, the only thing she can remember how to cook is beans. Every week I have to go up and throw away several containers of beans that have spoiled, that, and she likes to peel and cut-up potatoes, put them in a container with water, but she never cooks them, they just sit in the frig until I either use them or throw them away.
This week I was thinking about what to fix her and I remembered this recipe. She used to make them all the time and she would always bring me a small bowl of them because she knew I liked them too. I had never made them until today but they are easy and good.
Copper Pennies
2 pounds carrots, sliced
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 (10.75oz) can condensed tomato soup
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
2/3 cup white sugar
1. Cook carrots in enough water to cover them until carrots are just tender - about 10 minutes. drain well
2. In a mixing bowl combine celery, green pepper, carrots and onion
3. Bring tom. soup, oil, vinegar, and sugar to a boil. Stir well. Remove from heat and let cool about 10 - 15 minutes. Pour the mixture over the carrots, mix until vegetables are coated.
Marinate overnight before serving.
4 comments:
I know it's terrible and hard to deal with your mom and the disease, Alzheimer's is in my family and I have lived with and taken care of people who were in the final stages of the disease.
I was always comforted by the fact that they were able to be content in their little world after a fashion. Once they had a routine, and could do their little habits; they had some sense of purpose. To try and always want them back to 100% is torture, but to accept their situation now and let them be as functional as possible day to day is as close to normal as things can get and is some measure of happiness.
I am glad she can at least peel potatoes and futz around in the kitchen. Ida (the last one I lived with) was an amazing crafter in her day, and we did 'arts and crafts' futzing all day. She seemed content. Small tasks, easy goals. Tomorrow is a new day, and we did the same one over again. She also would organize her jewelry box. She really loved doing that. When she seemed frustrated, I'd put all her jewelry on her bed, and put her jewelry box there too and show her and say "I think your jewelry box needs attention" She would work on it for a long time, and her frustration would be eased.
I love Copper Penny Salad. I am going to make that this weekend! Thanks for the reminder of how good it is.
Cara - you know, as strange as it is, it is better for me that my Mom doesn't know who I am anymore. We never had a good relationship - in fact it was just downright shitty but now that relationship is just gone. She's not the woman she was and I have just let the resentment I held for all those years go with her.
She's kind of funny to watch... oh, yeah, the organizing thing.. she folds and stacks and unfolds and restacks clothes all day long. I noticed last time we were at the doctor's office, she took out a stack of kleenex from her purse and started folding. I just smiled and let her fold away. It soothes her.
Wow. Cara, that is an amazing story about you and the woman with her jewelry box!
Aola, I never even thought of it that way before, but I guess you and your mom really are strangers now, which means the old relationship has completely passed away. The scars haven't, of course, but it is kind of interesting that you are just sort of "there" and she has no idea what the past holds.
My dad has the big A, and I am actually looking forward to the time when his guilt and resentment and (shame?) about me is forgotten.
He has been a big walking guilt machine my whole life. Our relationship has completely sucked.
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