It took a Green Papaya Salad from Thailand to make me think about the rhythms of my life.

Rat-tat-tat-tat…. Rat-tat-tat…. Rat-tat.. Rat… Rat… Tat-tat… Thwap.

As I pounded the garlic and chili peppers into a paste, feeling both awkward and unskilled, I began to ask myself some questions…

Namely, how is it that something as simple as pounding food can be so hard for me, yet be so easy for another person – like… oh, say… someone from Thailand? I understand that Thai people learn how to use mortars and pestles at a young age… but … still… the question popped up.

And then things got really existential.  I’m not sure if it was a full moon, or the barometric pressure, but I got much, much deeper.

As in, I began to compare myself to a mortar and pestle.

I asked: “Am I moving smoothly through my life, making smart choices, or am I a mess of starts and stops, pounding the pavement hard for a while, then resting for too long before picking up the pace again?”

You see, I’ve heard rumors wives in Thailand used to be selected on their ability to make this salad. If they pounded with a smooth, steady rhythm, they were considered organized and a good prospect.

If the rhythms of their work were jagged and fitful, the girls were likely messy, and disorganized.

I don’t know what it all means, but suffice it to say, this was the state of my mind while making papaya salad. That’s what making food from scratch does to me – it gives me time to think.

When we sat down to eat?

All questions faded, all thoughts evaporated.

There was nothing left, but yum.

THE FOOD

Green Papaya Salad | Som Tam [Recipe]

What I loved most about this dish:

When Keith, a.k.a. Mr Picky, walked in and saw me loading on the fish sauce, he groaned “it smells like fish in here!”… but the beauty of fish sauce is that it does not taste fishy by the time you add all the other spices. It’s just… really salty. Thank goodness he loved this salad and forgot all about the fish sauce. He noticed all the elements: spicy, tart, salty, and a bit sweet. As for Miss Ava? She thought the green papaya were noodles, which was fun.

What I loved least about this dish:

Nothing. Make it spicy or make it mild, you’re in for a real treat (Ava’s version doesn’t use any chili peppers). Oh, and look for the pre-grated green papaya at your local Asian market.

Thai Iced Tea [Recipe]

What I loved most about this dish:

Sweet glorious Thai Iced Tea – there’s nothing better to slurp between bites of really spicy food. The caramel-like sweetened condensed milk makes for a lovely, creamy background to the Ceylon tea. Mr Picky wasn’t a total fan, but Ava was all about this drink (although that could be because I wouldn’t let her have very much since it’s caffeinated).

What I loved least about this dish:

At the restaurants I found Thai Iced Tea to be too sweet, but thankfully I can moderate the sweetened condensed milk to my own tastes at home. This one is a definite win.