Comfort From the Past

My lips closed over the thin wheat cracker nearly obscured by the generous glob of my favorite homemade dip. Gooey, smooth and rich, I quickly grabbed another cracker and using it as a scoop, thrust another bite of the delicious French onion flavored dip into my awaiting mouth before the last bite was even finished. As I savored the taste and the mix of textures, my mind wandered to a day when this very delicacy filled not just my stomach, but my heart as well, with the sense of being truly loved and cared for.

My mind went first to the day after Super Bowl Sunday, a bleak day, in which it felt as if the sun would never truly shine again. Six months pregnant with baby number seven, a little girl, our lives had been shattered the night before. My hard-working husband, coming home from a Super Bowl party sat down to relive his favorite scenes from the day’s game, the commercials! In the midst of commercials, pie and children on his lap, his heart suddenly gave way to a permanent slumber. He was not revivable. Calling my closest friend and college roommate, she assured me that she would be on the next flight she could book.

I was in a perpetual fog, still unbelieving and yet trying to put one foot in front of the other. So much pain. So many questions. So many decisions to make. Wednesday evening, Laura walked through the living room door. We hugged. We cried. And then she reached into her bag and pulled out a box of Wheat Thins and a package of onion soup mix. “Do you have sour cream?” she asked, her coat not even hung up yet. “Of course we do,” I replied surprised. She headed straight for my kitchen and tossing her jacket onto the back of a chair, she found a bowl and mixed up a giant batch of my favorite college study snack. “I know you’re probably trying to eat healthy right now,” she gestured to my burgeoning pregnant belly, “but I figured this might be a good time for your favorite comfort food.” I smiled and cried some more and then sat down and ate at least half of the delicious snack, suddenly overwhelmed with the sense of being cared for even amid my tremendous pain and grief.

Now, on the rare occasion when I’m up way past my bedtime working on a deadline, and I do indulge in this comfort from my past, it always floods my heart with the remembrance of that nourishing feeling of being truly known and genuinely loved.

Traditional Onion Dip Recipe

• 1 large container of Sour Cream
• 1 - 2 packages of LIpton’s (or another brand if you prefer) Onion Soup Mix

Add the powdered soup mix to the Sour Cream and stir well. If you leave it to sit for at least 30 minutes the flavors infuse deliciously and it is even more addicting.

Healthier Version of Onion Dip Recipe

(Here is the version of this recipe I have used for many years, allowing me to indulge occasionally with less negative health implications.)

• 1 large container of Sour Cream
• 2- 3 T Better Than Bouillon Beef Flavor
• 2 - 3 T dried onions
• 1 T dried celery or any other dried vegetables

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Allow to sit for a minimum of 30 minutes. Taste and adjust flavor by adding more sour cream if you want a subtle flavor or more veggies or bouillon if you with a stronger taste.

I would love to hear how you like this true story and if you try the recipe.

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