Guest Blog by Lynn from New Mexico Enchantment
There’s something to be said for comfort food. We all have fond memories of certain foods. These foods may symbolize special events or people in our lives or are associated with feeling loved and cared for.
When I left my home state of New Mexico, and moved 1500 miles away to Washington state, I didn’t realize how much I would come to rely on comfort food. It didn’t even occur to me how much I would need a taste of home now and then.
It didn’t take long for me to feel totally estranged from my previous life. I knew no one, I had no support system and worst of all,I had none of the food that was a staple of my life-New Mexican food. Trapped in the endless damp, gray winters I would start feeling like a stranger in a strange land. Where did my 360 days of sunshine go? Where did my warm middays go? And worst of all, why are there no decent Mexican restaurants?
I could justify not having chile rellenoplatters and sopapillas but I couldn’t stand not having any chile. Such a simple dish and so versatile. There was no way I was going to spend my time in Washington without it.
Red chile soon became my source of comfort.
I think my parents knew the move would be hard on me and my mom began sending me care packages of red chile powder. She would send a different brand every time until I found the one I liked the best. Then she sent it more frequently. That simple act made a huge difference to this expat desert rat.
When those long, dreary winters started I would start my routine also