When I was fifteen years old, I left the Vietnam to begin a new life with my family in the United States. But my young heart has never stopped yearning for that one day when I would go back home. One peculiar thing about Vietnamese is that they associate homesickness with food, which is the first thing that comes to their minds when they think of home. They usually crave dried fish, small fermented shrimp or meat stewed in soy sauce and vinegar. Mine is a sweet tasting dish called pork stew, my grandmother’s specialty. Perhaps food satisfies both the stomach and the heart. That is why I remember not only the distinct flavors but also, or most especially, the feelings of love-connections we attach to particular food. Pork stew has simple steps to prepare and brings a lot of memories about my family, friends and especially my hometown.
My childhood vacations were spent in the provincial home of my grandparents on my mother’s side. When I was young, my other two sisters and I were finicky eaters. Until my grandmother discovered that the three of us had a "sweet tooth." She did not care why "sweetness" excited the taste buds of children, but my grandmother wanted to please us and started feeding us her preparation of that sweet, full-of-flavor stew. I instantly liked the dish. Later, when I was old enough to understand, I was lectured on how to cook stew. But I never learned how to cook the dish correctly, as done by my grandmother. Or simply, I did not have the talent to cook, only to eat, if that can be classified as talent.
A stew is a combination of solid food ingredients that have been cooked in liquid and served in the resultant gravy. Ingredients in a stew can include any combination of vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, beans, peppers and tomatoes, meat, especially tougher meats suitable for slow-cooking, such as beef. My grandmother usually cooked pork stew. I don’t remember exactly what that part is called but it is the slab that is used when cooking roast pork, including the thick fat and skin. The meat is cut in big squares and seasoned with equal amounts of soy sauce, vinegar and brown sugar. To add flavor and bring out that pleasant smell, oregano, peppercorns, aniseed, laurel leaves and cinnamon bark are included. The cooking begins by sautéing and browning generous amounts of crushed garlic and sliced onions, after which the marinated pork is blended and simmered slowly for more than one hour until the meat becomes very tender and the pork skin turns as soft as marshmallow. After it is done, what remains is the thick, rich, sweet sauce that glazes the succulent meat and the strong aromatic smell. If one is familiar with the scent of cinnamon rolls being baked, the smell of stew is similar, only it is five times more delicious with the oregano, laurel and all the other spices in it. When I eat stew, it is accompanied with hot fragrant white rice, a basic staple on the Vietnamese dining table. When I bite, the melt-in-your-mouth texture brings out a delectable sensation on my tongue.
Pork stew is the healthy type of food. It is nutritious and it is balance of vegetables and meat. it is low in fat, sodium, and cholesterol. Meat is soft and supple, it is easy to eat. Taste of pork stew is fragrant of onions; potatoes and carrots are tender and fully absorbed spices. Pork strew are full spices such as salty, spicy, sour, sweet and taste are very charming people eat. All ages can enjoy pork stew even they are picky eaters as I like to eat this dish.
Of the many summers and Christmases that I stayed in my grandparents’ home, the one constant thing that was sure to be there waiting for us at the end of each journey was stew. Sometimes, we would arrive earlier than expected and would catch the mouth-watering smell of stew still cooking in my grandmother’s kitchen. When I was in United State, I missed pork stew like a heartbroken girl missing her faraway lover. Every now and then, my mother cooks pork stew here in our home in California, although I must admit it is not as flavorful as my grandmother’s. And each time, I remember my past life in the Vietnam with a smile and a small degree of heartache. Every bite of pork stew brings back memories of my fun childhood, of the many lazy summers and noisy Christmases, of the darling friends I left behind, of the laughter and affection of my grandparents.
Can you guys check grammar for me ? Thank you!
Um That is a long paragraph...
Later, when I was old enough to understand, I was lectured on how to cook stew. But I never learned how to cook the dish correctly, as done by my grandmother.
needs a "However," instead of "But"
I don’t remember exactly what that part is called but it is the slab that is used when cooking roast pork, including the thick fat and skin.
needs a comma between called / but
To add flavor and bring out that pleasant smell, oregano, peppercorns, aniseed, laurel leaves and cinnamon bark are included.
comma between leaves /and
When I bite, the melt-in-your-mouth texture brings out a delectable sensation on my tongue.
needs to change the word bite to something else - it gives the impression that WHENEVER I bite, I get that texture.
It is nutritious and it is balance of vegetables and meat.
needs to have a "a" between is/balance - perhaps needs a perfect as well.
Very nice story. Touching. Just a few comma errors here and there. I'm not a pro and I didn't feel like going super deep, so there may be a few other small errors in there. Otherwise: very descriptive, very detailed words, very good, great sentence structures. Awesome!
John, you'd have far better luck getting help if you post only one paragraph at a time. When I look at all that writing, jammed together with no breaks, my eyes hurt.
One paragraph at a time ... and only those paragraphs you have proofed and edited several times yourself!
I know that looks like a long paragraph . I wrote it like a essay , but when i post it , it changed all my style and space !!! I don't know why !
The author of the passage is sharing their personal story about their love for a dish called pork stew, which is their grandmother's specialty. The author explains that Vietnamese people often associate homesickness with certain foods, and for them, pork stew brings back memories of their family, friends, and hometown.
To understand how to prepare pork stew, the author describes the ingredients and steps involved. A stew is a dish made by cooking solid food ingredients in liquid, resulting in a gravy-like consistency. Typically, stews include vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, beans, peppers, and tomatoes, along with meat. In this case, the author's grandmother used pork, specifically the part used for roast pork which includes the thick fat and skin.
The pork for the stew is cut into large squares and marinated in equal amounts of soy sauce, vinegar, and brown sugar. To enhance the flavor, the author's grandmother adds oregano, peppercorns, aniseed, laurel leaves, and cinnamon bark. The cooking process involves sautéing crushed garlic and sliced onions, then simmering the marinated pork slowly for over an hour until the meat becomes tender and the pork skin turns soft.
The author describes the end result as a thick, rich, sweet sauce that coats the succulent meat and has a strong aromatic smell. The stew is typically served with fragrant white rice, and the tender texture of the meat and the flavorful taste of the sauce create a delightful sensation on the tongue.
The author also notes that pork stew is a healthy dish, as it contains a balance of vegetables and meat and is low in fat, sodium, and cholesterol. It is enjoyed by people of all ages, even picky eaters.
Throughout the passage, the author emphasizes the sentimental value that pork stew holds for them. It reminds them of their childhood vacations at their grandparents' home and the special moments shared with loved ones. Even when they moved to the United States, pork stew remained a constant reminder of their Vietnamese heritage.
In conclusion, the author uses their personal experience to illustrate how food, particularly pork stew, can evoke feelings of love, connection, and nostalgia for one's homeland.