Sunday, April 9, 2017

Thankful Sunday--April 9, 2017

I'm still working on more regular posting here, but in the meantime, if I can only manage one post a week, I'm glad it's Thankful Sunday. It makes me slow down and appreciate things around me.

I am thankful for good, cooked food.

If you've known me very long, you know that cooking is not my favorite thing. If there's any other distraction around like another project, a migraine, etc., I struggle to prepare a meal. It's been like this forever. Which is okay. Not everyone has to like spending time in the kitchen. What is not okay is the anguish I cause myself over this. 

Well, relief has come in this area. Hurray! No, I didn't find the magic pill that made me like cooking any better, I found my son. When we moved into our new house, Theo set himself and his workshop up in our basement. When we invited him to do this, we told him part of his rent was cooking dinner for us during the week. When Ward had surgery last year, Theo came and did some cooking to help out. That worked out so well that we wanted to try it again.
Theo cooked beans in the slow cooker overnight to go
with the ribs we're having today.

He has totally embraced his responsibilities. He prepares a healthful dinner for us every night. He even does it on the weekends even though he doesn't have to. He reads the supermarket ads (Aldi's) and plans the meals around what's on sale. He makes an effort to add extra vegetables to every dish. He keeps track of what's in the fridge that needs to be used up before it goes bad. He's doing his job just the way I would like without prompting. I'm in seventh heaven.

And meal prep has become a bonding experience, also. He bounces dish ideas off me and sometimes I'm his helper. Occasionally, he asks me about cooking methods or techniques. (I may not like being in the kitchen, but I am skilled there.) We make grocery lists together. He often does the shopping and sometimes we do it together.

Theo asks for feedback on every dish he cooks as he is honing his skills because he sometimes consults recipes but rarely follows them. Presently, he's trying to prefect his fruit crisp with different fruits. Ward and I particularly like these tests. :) But most of the time, everything is darn good.

When he goes away to spend the weekend with his brother, he makes sure that we have food cooked for when he's gone. We didn't ask him to do this, he just does. One week, when he was sick and I didn't want him in the kitchen, he left written instructions for dinner with both menu suggestions and cooking methods to use. 

If you can't tell, I could gush on and on about this. This is the biggest improvement that has happened in my daily life in a long time. 

For all of you out there who do just what Theo does day in and day out, remember that you are doing a wonderful thing. Your efforts may be taken for granted because that's just what you do. And have always done. But let me tell you, you are doing an invaluable service. I know because I'm on the receiving end of it now and it's great.

So for Theo and everyone else who fixes dinner for their family, roommates, or whoever, I am thankful.



17 comments:

  1. I read the gist of your post to my husband and we both looked at each other and called out the name of Youngest Son, lol. He's always said that he was content to continue living with us when his education is over (of course, he's only 15 right now!) and, coincidentally, signed up for a culinary class at the high school next year. I'm thinking my dinners might be ensured for the next few years as well :)

    All kidding aside, it's a wonderful trade-off that you've worked out, and a nice reminder that yes, just because you do something day-in, day-out, without being asked, doesn't mean that it is not tremendously appreciated. I'm happy for you all!

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    1. I know this situation won't last forever, but I am very thankful for it now. Who knows what may happen with your youngest son? He may enjoy his culinary class enough that he will have found his calling in life. Wouldn't be bad to have a son that is a chef if you ask me.

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    2. Not too bad?! It would be heaven! Especially if he became a pastry chef :)

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    3. One of the students who used to work with me at the library (like your son) went on to become a pastry chef. Talk about a fun graduation! There were beautiful pastries everywhere-both savory and sweet for tasting.

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  2. I love cooking when I have the time, and get to actually do it the way I want. I'm not a big fan of "making dinner" though - and I have a hard time telling what the distinction is. I guess, for me, cooking involves a bit of creativity. Figuring out which ingredients to use, trying out different methods, etc. "Making dinner" on the other hand, quite easily becomes drudgery - especially when you make the same thing over and over. Alas, cooking for myself generally involves the fun stuff, and cooking for CatMan is the latter experience, since for him, predictability is the single most important factor in food. Sigh.

    Anyhow, it sounds like you've come up with a great arrangement, and making baked beans in the crockpot sounds like a wonderful idea! I may have to try it now that it's getting too warm to want the oven on for hours at a time!

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    1. Theo has always thought regular baked beans were too sweet, so his is a much plainer version--basically tomatoes, beans, and seasoning with just a hint of sweetness. But they're still good.

      I know many people who love to create in the kitchen. I know several others who find cooking relaxing. I'm not either one of those kind of people. I find my creative and relaxing things in other areas. But even for the people, who like to be in the kitchen, fixing dinner every night is drudgery sometimes.

      Also, I am one who eats a little all day long. My mother says I was born that way and never outgrew it. So having a meal with several foods fixed at one time does not suit the way I eat and does not motivate me to cook that way. But others that I live with are more conventional.

      I could go into a lot more analysis about cooking and me, but no need to for now. Let's just say, we are a happy group around here at meal time.

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  3. I'm thinking that Theo may have a very grateful spouse someday. :) My husband enjoys cooking and does the main meals on weekends, and, like you, I enjoy it thoroughly. Food tastes better when other hands prepare it. I think it's that sense of being nurtured. I love it that Theo leaves you extra food when he's gone and leaves directions for preparation.

    I think CatLady's description of "making dinner" versus cooking is a good one. If I have time and can putz around with my food prep, it's fun and creative. On the other hand, if I have a busy week and am grasping for quick, nutritious dinner ideas, it's work.

    Enjoy your meals this week!

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    1. I thought it was kind of silly when Theo left us food on the weekends because, of course, we can take care of ourselves. But if that is what he wants to do, who am I to argue. :)

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  4. I think this is a fantastic trade off. I love being in the kitchen, but if I could trade off rent for vacuuming, sweeping and laundry help I would be in heaven too!

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    1. I don't mind laundry at all and sweeping is okay. In fact, I've offered to do Theo's laundry when I'm doing ours, but he politely refuses. I guess it is appropriate for an adult to do their own laundry.

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  5. What an interesting concept (gives Mr. Spock raised eyebrow, "Fascinating...")!

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    1. https://deepfriedscifi.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/spock1.jpeg

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  6. Sounds like a good arrangement all around! Glad it is working out and thankful you have a son who can cook. There will be a very happy spouse some day, down the line, too, I should think!

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    1. There may be a happy spouse some day, but for now there are happy parents for sure. :)

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  7. Oh wow, I want Theo to come live with me. He should do a business like that? Sell his services as a live in chef for a week at a time!

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    1. I'll mention that to him. It might help with his cash flow as he is establishing his other business.

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What do you think?