In my younger days, I lived in a student flat in the Greater Helsinki area. The whole block of flats was full of us students from different parts of Finland. We gradually got acquainted with each other and often gathered around good music and good food in the evenings. More often than not, we had pasta salad made of a variety of low-cost ingredients, with favourite music playing in the background. Students often live on a small budget and cannot afford gourmet foods or treat guests to them. But the most important thing is good company and friends who are worth their weight in gold.
Those days are long gone, but they often come back to me: the small kitchen and friends at the table enjoying a pasta salad. Somebody would bring a bottle of wine and baguettes to crown a good meal.
We liked Italian food which is why we seasoned the pasta with herbs and garlic to give our favourite dish a delicious smell and taste. We all liked pasta salad and every cook gave it his or her personal touch with spices and garnishes.
When I occasionally meet those fellow students we like to think back to those years and all the meals we shared.
Pen name: Mira
