The Joys of Cooking

SK thinks I am crazy.  But that is nothing new....I have always been like this.  Since cooking takes time and energy and resources, I always like to try new recipes out on people....not just SK and me.  So an occasion when company comes over always seems like a time to try something new.  Well multiply that by 20 and it's me... trying something new on 40 YSAs.

Sometimes it works and sometimes...not so much.  But tonight's recipe worked...in fact it was wildly popular.  Sister Blackham gave me the recipe for chicken pot pie.  It was fairly simple.  I cooked 8 pounds of chicken breasts in the slow cooker, made 10 liters of cream sauce....added the cooked chicken and 10 pounds of frozen vegetables.  I topped it with the crust/Parmesan mixture and baked 5 large pans.

At 6 p.m. I am always wondering if anyone will come....and if anyone will like the dinner.  Around 40 came!  Whew.  And they seemed to thoroughly enjoy the meal.  I baked a pan of brownies and they all went too.  My young friend who served in Arizona was enthusiastic once again and gave me a hug.  He is so cute.  I think he likes to have "Arizona" food again.....whatever that is.  Whatever that is, I guess that is what I make.

One meal down, two to go this week....and then refreshments on Monday for FHE (Erin and Ethan introduced us to a grand treat....waffles topped with Nutella, bananas, and whipped cream...slam dunk).

I just enjoy being with those young people.  I love the conversations, the enthusiasm, the testimonies, the life's decision-making and the camaraderie.  On Thursdays I hardly get out of the kitchen, but there are always a few who will come and join me in the kitchen, helping with the last preparations.....and then we talk.  What fun.  It happens after as well.  Sometimes a conversation is only 30 seconds long, but I love it.

My father always said that the worst invention of our time was the dishwasher, because it robbed mothers special time with their children.  I LOVED having that time all to myself with my mother.  We talked about all kinds of things.  But even with the dishwasher there is always so much work to do that there is still a great deal of time to talk.

I am recapturing the joys that kitchen chores provide.