This might come as a shock, but I'm really not "a son-uva-bitch" about cooking (to quote my wonderful, delicate and now deceased mother-in-law). In fact, if Gary would commit to making grilled cheese for us every day, I would gladly get rid of all my fancy pots and pans, save one emergency skillet. Truth be known, if by myself, I could most likely get along quite well with just a hot plate and a microwave!
I'm not sure when the cooking bug flew the coop but I suspect it was shortly after hitting my head and scrambling a few of my brains, leaving me not quite right. After that, mysterious un-food related items started appearing in the fridge. Why on any given day Gary might find a screwdriver, a flashlight and various and sundry household items in the vegetable bin. It became a joke around the house that if you lost something, just look in the fridge! That, along with ingredients that never made it into whatever I was putting together sort of killed the joy of cooking for me. But not too terribly long ago it was my passion, really and truly! Back then, I would count the days until the new Bon Appetit and Gourmet magazines would arrive the mail box. Every month I would carefully pour over every picture and read every recipe choosing a few to try out on unsuspecting but willing guests. My dream back then, was to open a coffee shop in a Southern resort town and serve my famous scones and a few other baked goods. Now I just want to visit those resort towns and sample baked goods at quaint little coffee shops. My, how swiftly tides can turn!
Cooking now days is nothing but a big ol chore. Most times I feel like I am in that kitchen for hours just scratching up something simple! That's probably why we only eat one meal, around 2:00, otherwise I'd be in there all day long! It doesn't matter if I'm fixin a store bought rotisserie chicken and a few things to go with it or making something from nothing, I can count on it taking at least a couple of hours and I don't have a clue why, either. Sometimes I'm in there so long I'd swear I had a blackout and I'm not even drinking! Why, at times I have to fortify myself with a snack, usually a handful of Cheetos ya know, to get me thru. Why cant they come up with People Chow, tasty pellets you can eat as is or soften with water when your teeth and jaws give out.
Out of habit, I still enjoy the perusal of cookbooks and Southern Living recipes and yes, sometimes I'm inspired. Like right this minute I have "Spicy Latin Chicken" in the crock pot. Its a new recipe so we'll see how that's received. Its not that I miss cooking, its more that I miss loving to cook. There are lots of thing I simply refuse to cook and wouldn't you know those are the things Gary loves most but as I see it, thats what Cracker Barrel is for. If I'm cooking its going to be something interesting and not just pot roast or meat loaf, the likes of which I will not eat.
The boy's birthday weekend recently passed and we had our traditional cookout. At our old house we could count on several hungry undiscerning boys eager to try just about anything. Now, as the kids have matured, so have their tastes. To be fair, mine have changed quite a bit over time, too. But our cookouts have always been fun and relaxed with lots of laughter. This one was no exception. We had several reasons to celebrate so we pretended Rhys was with us to enjoy the festivities.
I fixed a wonderful roasted asparagus salad (a recipe from last year's party) and Gary grilled rib eyes for himself and Reagan while Melissa and I enjoyed grilled Key Lime chicken. We also had Uncle Lloyd's favorite potato spinach casserole and yeast rolls, too. The Southern Living Key Lime Pound Cake was so good that I actually cant wait to make it again, once we work off the calories from the last one. But darn it, I didn't plan on both Reagan and Gary, after eating a pound of beef, heading for the platter of chicken! I was really looking forward to having several meals of leftovers. I declare those guys can put away the groceries. I need to remember the next time Gary takes food off the grill to hurry up and squirrel some of it away for later. I guess they must think they have to finish everything that's cooked on account I might get my feelings hurt. My guys are thoughtful that way.
If you cant stand the heat....
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
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