Mom's Kitchen

My mother on Black sea family holiday, 1980

My mother is a great cook. The kind which dances while making new sauces. She is not pretentious and full of imagination and gusto for feeding everyone around the table. Her classics were spaghetti bolognese and french lemon tart. She is famous for her custom made cakes, big juicy stakes, sour cabbage and banitza. Because I started a blog related to home made beauty and such, I think it is important to present the people from whom I first learned about herbs, spices, preparations and ointments. My mother is kind of improviser, who is ready to create from the little she has, but her determination to detail and to bring satisfactions in all, has showed me that like with anything in life, hard work and details are the important parts.

In her book shelf beside the philosophy, classical literature, alpinism and film-making books, were also books of myths, herbs and nature. "Nature Apothecary" was one of the covers I remember playing with. Pictures of flowers with their roots and leafs appear from my earliest fantasies. During our long mountain walks she would tell me her made up tales to keep me walking up the hills. Once in a while we would stop for a break during which she would show me flowers that were important to know. Up there above 1000-2000 m high between the rocky trails fluffy leafs became our first aid, yellow buds were antiseptic chewing gums, puff mushrooms would turn into valuable wound powder. I earn from early age, that nature was the grand master and had in store everything, you just need to go on "go and find it" pilgrimage.

Plant Morphology

My first favorite plant was the mountain Thyme. We would collect always some to add into our tea, when camping. Thyme has been used as a embalming fluid by the Egyptians and today is most commonly used for respiratory issues. Every time we came down from the mountain we would have big pouch filled with thyme. Through the rocky mountain paths different tiny flowers, aromatic mountain blueberries, pine needles, every little thing up there on our way through the wilderness became my friend. Up there were only wild horses, frogs, snakes and eagles live, the surroundings became part of our daily existence. Being familiar with this surrounding the the practical use of it, can be a life savior. I admire my mom for the bravery for bringing me alone in this early age of 5-7 up to 2925m higest peak on the Balkans. Yes, my mom is an adventurer and naturalist.

Moma enjoying this moment high up in the mountains next to a lake

She would clean all the trash left by the tourists from the trails, lakes and guest houses. Up there this effort would cost us sometimes injuries while cleaning the lakes. This taught me to be mindful of my own waste and not to ever leave any non practical garbage behind. Moma was stubborn and heroic image, which I followed everywhere until turning that certain age, when was the time to do my own soul searching. Using herbs for home healing is common in Bulgaria and the country is one of the World's leading herb exporters. She is no herbalist, just having the basic knowledge and taste in using herbs in her cooking. From her kitchen cabinet I remember first discovering about kurkuma, estragon, majorana and salvia. She also taught me how to make marinades and to ferment pickles and cabbage. The old art of creating winter foods in jars is now returning in glory, because people are more and more aware of the probiotic qualities in fermented goods. People do realize the benefits of having their own stash of winter vitamins and macrobiotics.

Compared to my mother I turned out more of a city kind of girl. She never wore make-up and rarely  dressed up like high heels and such. Her taste in jewels is discrete and would rather wear her hair short and casual with no need for styling. Her way is the natural one, with strength, independence, humbleness and tact. There is also great mystery about her, because I don't think anyone really knows her deep child like emotions that make her create fairy like drawings and semi-precious stone art she composes like mandalas. No wonder she works with children today and has many little friends. What comes to the male population, they would put her in pedestal for her endurance and bravery. For the record, once she was lost for many days. We were waiting, searching already for her, when she came back home from the snowy mountains with broken leg. She was skiing alone and had this crazy experience, finding her way with broken bone with the help of Shepard. She also did water fasting for over 41 days, more than Jesus and Gandhi did.

My leg meets her smile. 

Related Reads:
https://www.gutmicrobiotaforhealth.com/en/guide-difference-fermented-foods-probiotics/
https://theherbalacademy.com/mountain-medicine-yarrow-and-arnica-uses/
http://blog.boiana-mg.com/bulgaria/bulgaria-is-one-of-the-top-3-herbs-producers-and-exporters-in-the-world/
https://www.bulgarherbs.com/bulgarian-herbs
http://www.frenchguycooking.com/videos/423/12-cooking-herbs-every-cook-should-know-about
https://wellnessmama.com/345549/water-fasting/

Mom enjoying her favorite blueberries in the mountain, 2018