Mom can cook! - 1/12/10

Another day another supper to fix. I am learning better everyday how to plan my meals so that I can use up what we have in our pantry and freezer. My husband greatly appreciates this as he hates wasting food and excessive grocery shopping. A few years ago my husband bought me a small deep freeze and I have learned to buy meat in bulk to freeze. This allows me to plan my side dishes around the protein and ensure that I am able to prevent any grocery shopping outings alone with two kids.

I have to say how nice it was to be defrosting my beef roast this morning around 9:00am and then popped it in my dutch oven around 12:00. Its going to be nice and tender for my boys tonight for supper. I know that many of my friends work during the day and how exhausting it is to come up to all their Mommy duties plus cook a meal. Whether or not you choose to "Rachey Ray" it or just simply order out I know that sharing a meal with your family is the most important element to a nice evening home.

I think that some of my most treasured memories of growing up are the many meals that my Mom prepared for our family. I just last night made one of the casseroles that I fell in love with as a small child. It stayed with me all my life and was actually the first meal I made for Sean when we first started dating. I thought that he would make fun of me and hate it because it certainly is a "country" meal when you make a casserole. He is originally from the east coast and believe it or not where you are from in the U.S. will impact your everyday cuisine dramatically. He had never had a casserole before and thankfully, because my husband is not a "picky" eater he liked it a lot. And even last night commented on my facebook status about my supper preparations that it was "yummy". I always look over at Clayton while he eats a meal or anything I have specially prepared and get such a great feeling of accomplishment when he says, "mmmmm, yummy". It is such a heart-warming and inspiring feeling cooking for your family. Bringing nourishment to them both metaphorically and literally is such a beautiful accomplishment. I dreamed of this day when I would get to "cook" for my family and share that special time together around the dinner table. I'm never surprised when child psychologists or family therapists share that dysfunctional families usually do not eat together during the week and that families that do are happier and more successful.

This is a tradition and requirement that I am going to instill in my children. I know someday they will have basketball practice, a part-time job, or maybe (God forbid) a date, but they need to make time for their family. Whether its every night or even just a few nights a week I know how important this is and how it could/may change their lives forever so its worth enforcing!!!

Right now, I'm not having a problem with it. :)

I say all this to just share that no matter what you do or do not know what to cook its trivial compared to actually doing it. Your family appreciates it whether or not they always communicate it. Someday you may get a call from a established, independant, and potentially married son or daughter asking you for that recipe you didn't think was that special.

How moving would that be??

So, to all you Mom's out there. You "can" cook!!!! :)

And whatever you are cooking I'm sure it's going to be great!!