On food and family...

Who doesn't like to talk about food? Right!? I mean we all do it. Whether we're eating it, or cooking it, or eating it AND cooking it (ME!) we're DOING it. I'm doing it every single day, probably too many times a day. But as I was making dinner tonight I was thinking about the role I have taken in my family as the cook or head chef (if you will) (AND you will dammit). I like to cook, I really enjoy it. And I love any opportunity to wear a cute apron, so that's encouraging. But oh my holy hell, there is so much that comes with the cooking... SO much.

First, I will say I can't believe I'm talking about cooking on my blog, I'm so sorry. It's just on my brain and it's going to be there until I get it out. So, now that you've been warned, I was thinking tonight about how long it takes me every freakin' night to cook. I've been cooking for well over a year now (one year and six weeks to be exact), and it still takes me ages and ages and ages to slice mushrooms. Or julienne a red bell pepper. Or OH MY GOSH, trim the chicken. Talk about an all day event. It takes me so long to do anything that I know as soon as I see a recipe I just need to go ahead and double the prep time AND the cook time. And I know that Homie is in charge of the onions because my eyes have TEH HATE for the onions. So, there's that.

Also, there is the EXTREME anxiety that comes with cooking for others. WHY? WHY? WHY? Tomorrow night I am making a dish for my friend who gave birth a couple of weeks ago. And if I haven't hemmed and hawed over this like the world was going to end, OH MY GOSH. And the dish?? The dish you put the food in, what the hell kind of dish do you take? Disposable? Nice? China? Please help, I've lost my mind. Also, everyone else who has taken a dish is so much older, wiser, and more experienced than me. But then I remind myself that she is lurvely, and expects nothing. And she did so much when Homie was sick. So, I carry on and tell myself to relax already, and give myself a break. And once I did that I figured it all out, and it's not even a little bit stressful. Before though, wow. Ridiculous.

There is also the EXTREME anxiety of cooking for the Bean. Those tweens are tricky, and you shouldn't believe anyone who tries and tells you differently. Holy hell, the Bean is also a vegetarian which slightly complicates things. And then there's the fact that she's picky. So, yeah. Cooking for her is anxiety-provoking. Let's just say I've gotten a couple of bad looks. But don't tell anyone that, I'm working on it. And she's still AWESOME.

Next there is the absolute shit burden of not having a dishwasher. What!? You thought you misunderstood me? NO, I don't have a dishwasher. It is terrible as it sounds. And we have very little counterspace. So, I'm always cramped and trying to use the LEAST amount of dishes possible. And I'm always saying, Homie come wash the colander, or the frying pan or whatever it is that is dirty that I might need. It stinks people. Stinks.


But besides all of that I love to cook. And since I've gotten that off my chest, what's your favorite dish?