The family meal.
It is a tradition that I have kept into adulthood. Every evening, my children and I along with my husband (when the Army hasn’t sent him somewhere else) gather around the table for a good, home-cooked meal. When life drags you in all directions, having that daily routine, that tethers you all back together is priceless. I sometimes think that when my husband is off in Iraq or Afghanistan, that he misses my cooking even more than he misses me! (Okay, not really…but it is close.)
In today’s world, I have noticed many families who have foregone this tradition. I have met many people that simply don’t know how to cook very well.
I am not a professional by any means. I am a self-taught cook. Unless of course you can count 7th grade Home Ec. But I haven’t taken Culinary Arts classes, or any other professional training when it comes to food. You learn as you go, through trial and error. Not every recipe you try is going to make your heart zing. But the more you cook, and the more you experiment, the better a cook you become. And if the bread doesn’t rise, it’s okay! Just give it another whirl.
I firmly believe that everyone can learn to cook. Everyone can enjoy that priceless family time around the dinner table.
Even if your a family of 1, cooking your own food is fulfilling and certainly better than the fast food “restaurant” on the corner!
About my cooking:
I do my very best to make everything from scratch. I have honestly always looked at mixes as “cheating.” That doesn’t mean I have never used mixes, though. When I was in my early learning years I did! Especially when it came to cakes and such. But over time, the more I cooked, the more recipes I found or developed, the more I was able to toss the mixes.
Quite frankly, I like being able to pronounce the names of, and recognize all of the ingredients in the foods I am eating. Don’t you?
So for the most part, you will see things made with real butter, real sugar, and real everything else!
So that sums it up. I’m a real Army Wife (I don’t play one on TV,) I cook real food, I cook for my real family, and we really do love the family meal time. I hope to share this love with you.
Welcome to my kitchen!
