Day 22 - A Season to Savor

With Christmas being three days away, it was apparent that many here would miss out on the great home-cooked meals that had enjoyed in the past. I, for one, would miss going to my Grandmother’s house each Christmas and dining several times on the meal she had prepared for the family. She always provided a large assortment of food, especially for me since I eat very minimal amounts of meat. The things I miss most about her cooking was how she made her rolls from scratch. No recipe, no instructions, no prepackaging. Everything she had done was passed down to her when she was growing up, experimenting with the recipe to suit her taste as well as the tastes of her guests.

The experience here in Iraq with food has been hit or miss. Depending on the time you were able to go and get food, you either had a decent meal or the cold leftovers that most had picked around. But, in the holiday spirit, that all changed. The meal for the day was one to remember. Everything including but not limited to ham, turkey, dressing, several types of gravy, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, beans, corn, cakes and pies, and a large selection of drinks.

As I walked into the chow hall, the line was exceptionally long. There were civilians working who split the line into two separate lines to make room for the masses still entering the facility. Most of the tables were full, most of the staff working feverishly to replace food as it disappeared, and most of the people in the line were ready to eat.

Accompanied by the usual crowd I eat meals with, we stood in line wanting and waiting. We had sent someone to hold us a table while we contemplated on what we would be eating for the evening. The meal was surprisingly good and it was apparent a lot of hard work went into the preparations. Each table was lined with Christmas colors, adorned with candy canes and ornaments, topped off with bottles of sparkling red or white grape juice.

That evening we ate together, comparing the food here to what we would have enjoyed if back in the States. Looking around at our table, counting the number of completely empty plates, the meal was enjoyed by all. We made our way to the dessert bar and were confronted with one tough decision after another. Cake or cookies? Cookies or ice cream? Ice cream or pie? Knowing that we only have this opportunity when major holidays come around, we decided to combine several items. Cake topped with ice cream and chocolate fudge sauce. Ice cream covered in peanuts, caramel, whipped cream, and cherries. Pie with a dollop of ice cream covered in blueberries. Cookies broken into small pieces over two hefty scoops of ice cream.

Meals here are typically hit or miss. You either had a decent meal or the cold leftovers that most had picked around. But as Christmas grew evermore closer and the holidays were winding down, this meal in Iraq was definitely one to savor.