I love to cook, be hospitable and see others happy when enjoying a good meal. It was like drinking happy juice as I shopped and envisioned what I would make.
With list in hand I would head to SAMS and get all my goodies. As I pushed my cart through the aisles and gathered my items I could see the finished work in my view. With anticipation I move swiftly to keep up on my time.
Once home, its nothing but strategy in motion. Everything in its place and my mind is set to make it happen.
Since we are a family of nine, I am accustomed to big pots and large portions to make sure everyone gets their share.
I am one of those people who cook and follow that kitchen law; clean as you go. I absolutely hate seeing a messy, kitchen after I am finished cooking cause it makes me sad. Who wants to do all that work and then have more work on top of that to do.
Well after twenty-four years of meals, I found myself really not wanting to do it. The question then became,”what is going on with me?”
Most of my children knew how to cook so I wasn’t cooking all the time as I was when they were younger.
It was time to investigate and really discover why I was reluctant to cook. Well here is some of what I discovered….
Cooking was not my problem. It was the premeditation of everyone thinking I was the only one to cook at certain time, and the after drama that was also creating a negative withdrawal for me. Let me explain what it looked like at my place
Dinner is cooked….time to call everyone to the table. (we did old school family time at the table)
This role called for dinner can take any where from 10-20 minutes waiting for the whole crew.
Now that we are all here its time to try and get them to sit at the table at the same time. Not here everyone wants to start their own conversation and then another 10 minutes or more go by…its about 30 minutes now and my food is getting cold:(
Once we are at the table I love it…conversation, laughter and connection!
If you have ever cooked big meals you stand on your feet for a longtime so it would be good designation for some one else to wash the dishes.
In my house who ever does not help cook you are the clean up crew! If we were on reality Tv you would be weak with laughter seeing those avoiding our rule of clean up.
Kitchen clean up could take any where from one hour to four hours. Even after four hours there will still be things that need to be done.
Most people would say why don’t you go chill while they clean up? At first I did not but then I learned to just walk away and keep my peace.
Now that my most of my children are adults I find myself having less patience when it comes to cooking and clean up. I still love cooking but these folks have me on boycott.
I cooked dinner yesterday and I enjoyed it. I am working on myself.
These folks I am referring to are my family. As much as I love them and love cooking, I am still sold out to do it like I did it in the past.
For right now I am going to spend time getting rid of any negative memory that blocks me from enjoying my family and the love I have for cooking for them.
Just Appetizers 