Mom Almost Killed Us!
Community Voices X Pen Parentis - Emmi Herman shares a recipe fail that is family legend
Today we’re bringing you an essay from our Community Voices - authentic stories relating to families and food. Emmi S. Herman writes a heartfelt story about how her mother couldn’t taste or smell, but she gave her daughter and whole family flavor, memory, and one kitchen story too wild not to retell; she also shares her mom’s original mushroom toast cups recipe with us! Follow Emmi and her writing on Instagram @eherman0110, on Substack at Emmi Herman, and on Medium.
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Mom Almost Killed Us!
Her cooking method turned out perfect meals — most of the time
By Emmi S. Herman
Most people rely on their sense of smell and taste when cooking, but not Mom. When she was around 35, nasal polyps and chronic sinusitis caused anosmia, which prevented her from being able to smell or taste. But that did not stop our kitchen impresario from turning out delectable meals for the family.
Mom trained me and my sister to smell and taste for her. When I was four, she’d roll a neat ball of raw chopped meat, kosher salt, garlic, and parsley with her hands and place the delicacy in my open palm. Perched on the kitchen stool, I’d nibble my first steak tartare.
Or she’d summon me from play to taste the juices of a hot-out-of-the-pan chicken fricassee.
“Too salty? What’s missing?” she’d ask, searching my face.
“Nothing, Mom. It’s perfect,” and I would run off to play.
Being Mom’s nose had its benefits. I got to taste what was for dinner before everybody else. And sometimes that meant warm chocolate pudding.
I enjoyed doing this for Mom and completely took for granted the gift of my own five senses.
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