Kim Bap

One of my favorite childhood memories is of my mother making us a korean meal called Kim Bap.  Kim Bap is looks like sushi, but doesn't typically have any fish in it.  It is a sheet of dried seaweed rolled up with rice, pickled radish, spinach, carrot, egg, and beef.  It was quite a process for her to put these rolls together.  I remember her putting all of the ingredients into a large baking pan and sitting on a low korean table to put the rolls together.  I would hover over her, watching her use the bamboo sushi rolling device to create these beautiful, yummy rolls!  I would eat them as quickly as she made them.  I couldn't help myself...I always wondered in the back of my mind if that irritated her.  You take all of this time to prepare for this dish and your child inhales them as quickly as you are able to roll!

The bamboo rolling device!

Fast forward a few years and I find myself in mom's position.  Mind you, I am no where near the level of proficiency that my mom exhibited with her cooking!  I took Noah and Demetri to a sushi restaurant for lunch yesterday.  Demetri thoroughly enjoyed the tuna salad roll and ate about 6 pieces by himself!  This morning, he asked in the sweetest voice, "Mommy, I don't know if you know how, but could you make some of those rolls I had yesterday?"  So, I got to work getting the ingredients together to make my son some of those rolls he was so pleased with!

My Demetri!

I found the seaweed sheets, made a fresh batch of rice and seasoned it, made the tuna salad (per his request) and got to work rolling them up.  I had not even finished cutting the first roll when Demetri came around the corner.  His eyes got wide and a huge smile creeped across his face, "Mommy!!!  I didn't know you could cook like Mimi (my mom)!"  His little hands went straight for the little pile of tuna salad rolls and the feeding frenzy began.  He was popping them in his sweet little mouth as quickly as I could make them... *heart smile*  In that moment, I knew why my mom was never annoyed by me hovering over her and causing the work of her hands to disappear so quickly.  There is no greater joy for a mother to see her child happy and to be a small reason for that happiness.  That's why so many cultures, including the Korean culture, expresses their love through their food.  The time and effort it took my mother to prepare the countless complicated Korean meals was all done because she loved us. Her satisfaction was found in watching me enjoy her food...just as my heart was so full of love and satisfaction as I watched Demetri appreciate and enjoy the small thing I had done for him.

My finished product!  

Mom, thank you for all of the little (and big) ways you showed your love for us.  As a mother of my own two boys, I understand so much more about what makes mothers do what they do...without completely losing their minds!  My angelic face chowing down on your food brought you joy and you were happy to do it over and over...even to this day!  I can't wait to see you in a few days and give you even more opportunities to "love on me!"  Hehehe!