Friday, April 27, 2012

FFwD - Navarin Printanier

Eischens with the Jones'
Two of our oldest and best friends came from Memphis for a visit last week.  I can't begin to tell you the many good times we've had together over the 35 years of our friendship.  Marsha and I were away from home and young mothers together with husbands that walked out the door not knowing where they were going or when they would be home.  At first we turned on the news trying to figure out what was going on in the world and knew our husbands were not far from it.  After a while we didn't want to know.  That's what it was like being an Air Force wife in the 70's.  We went to coffees and meetings and learned to smile and keep our mouths shut...except with each other.  So many times I leaned on her and it was her friendship that helped me make it another day with most of my sanity in tact!

 Is motherhood easier these days?  I don't see the frantic deer in headlights look on young women today that Marsha and I had.  Do today's young moms just know more?  Are they better at mothering than we were?  When my sons talk about their childhood they make it sound like they were raised by wolves. When I told this to my friend she laughed and said, "They were!".  She had girls and I had boys and we had different mothering styles:)
Navarin Paramantier

Oh yeah, the navarin printanier.  Ron really likes lamb.  My husband, Gary, really likes it too.  Me not so much and Marsha not at all!  I think it was fortuitous that lamb stew was on the French Friday plan and Ron was here.  He and Gary loved it.  Ron told me he can't stop thinking about it.  Isn't that why we go to so much trouble to prepare exceptional meals for our loved ones?  "Without a fine meal the crude realities of existence would be unbearable."  That's so true, at least in my world!

I forgot to add the peas and that might be a good thing.  I love peas but they're flavor can be so dominant! Without them the stew was delicate and delicious.  Just about perfect and I'm not a lover of lamb.  This broth could make me a believer.

Visit the French Friday with Dorie website to see what everyone else thought about this!
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14 comments:

  1. Cher RockwellApril 27, 2012 at 11:15 AM

    Lovely stew & story.
    As an ex-army wife, I can relate to that feeling. The time around 9/11 & the years after definitely left my world in a constant state of flux - I am not sure how I (and the girls) made it through with our sanity...

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  2. michelleApril 27, 2012 at 12:02 PM

    Beautiful bowl of stew! And so nice you got to share it with good friends!

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  3. KathyApril 27, 2012 at 3:29 PM

    My husband was just out of the Navy when we married, but he took a job in DC. We married and left to live in Washington! I remember when my first son was born…I was so lonely for my mom! Thank God for great friends…we all depended on each other so much. Nice to get to share a visit with yours…bet they enjoyed your stew! It looks wonderful!

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  4. AnonymousApril 27, 2012 at 10:27 PM

    Motherhood has always been tough, and will continue to be that way. As a mom of two five year olds, I can tell you that I am not certain at all about my habits as a mom. Perhaps someday my children will also claim to have been raised by wolves. The important thing is that they were raised!

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  5. pamkarenApril 27, 2012 at 10:40 PM

    How nice to have good friend to share one of Dorie's recipes with...gravy (broth? sauce?) was yum wasn't it?

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  6. Andrea_TheKitchenLionessApril 28, 2012 at 4:45 AM

    I enjoyed reading your post very much - it is very kind of you to share your story, it touched me very much. There are always aspects in other people's lives that I cannot even begin to imagine...wonderful photos too!

    Have a nice weekend!

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  7. ElaineApril 28, 2012 at 9:04 AM

    Great post, Lola. I'm glad everyone enjoyed your stew. It certainly is beautiful. My husband loved the sauce so much that he thought it would make a great sauce for albigondas soup.

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  8. SusanApril 28, 2012 at 4:13 PM

    Wow, Guyla - you're really taking great photos! I'll be making this tomorrow when our nephew comes to dinner - must be something about sharing this type of meal with others. It's just so comforting!

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  9. yummychunkletApril 28, 2012 at 8:06 PM

    I'm glad everyone enjoyed the stew. Now, your friends from Memphis must return the favor by inviting you to "Memphis in May"!

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  10. Liz That Skinny Chick Can BakeApril 29, 2012 at 4:38 PM

    I will have to play catch up with this dish! My hubby loves lamb, too...I have a feeling it will be a hit!

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  11. BetsyApril 30, 2012 at 5:33 AM

    What a lovely story, and a testament to the true value of friends. Having lived 500 miles from my family since college, I believe that friends are the family you choose for yourself. And, I'm glad that the stew was a hit. I agree with you on the broth. It was amazing...

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  12. AnonymousApril 30, 2012 at 6:14 AM

    Ahhh... I'm an air force wife, raising a one year old and we are adding to our family in this chaotic world - I can totally relate! I LOVE making some great meals for my hubby when he is home and even when he isn't practice my recipes and it's just great to share something that so much time, love and care went into! :) Great job!

    And isn't it funny how we all try to right our parents perceived wrongs with our own children and still they talk about their childhoods like they were raised by wolves? :)

    Alice @ http://acookingmizer.wordpress.com

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  13. Mary HirschApril 30, 2012 at 4:07 PM

    Guyla, Your friends look like happy campers. You fed them well. And, did you ever bring up memories. I was in college during the Cuban Missile crisis and had several sorority sisters whose Dads were stationed at Homestead AFB. Their dad's disappeared, the entire FSU campus was on alert, my mother and father, who lived in Iowa, were hysterical because I was in harms way, all very chaotic. There were several of those episodes throughout my years in college and grad school. I don't know how you wives did it or are doing it. Your stew looked delicious even without the peas.

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  14. loavesandstitchesApril 30, 2012 at 6:38 PM

    I really don't think it's any easier or harder to be a parent now, but it sure does seem like it when there isn't much family around and having your spous gone doesn't help. Your stew looks really good!

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