You've heard me say before that I'm not a good cook. Don't get me wrong- I'm an educated, intelligent woman- I can read a recipe and create a pretty fair example of whatever the writer intended. I've cooked a few dinners that made me feel worthy of a little praise. But I don't have the knack, the natural talent that makes a good cook. I don't have the desire to create a new dish that will "wow" my family. I don't even feel the need to cook. I can be perfectly happy ordering pizza or heating chicken nuggets in the microwave and throwing a salad together. Disappointing, I know.
I come from a long line of great cooks. My grandmother was a professional cook and so was her sister. My mom was a good cook. Both of my daughters are excellent cooks. My son is a good cook. I remember him standing in the kitchen at a very early age and positively beaming with joy. He loved to cook. He always offered to help with something in the kitchen. He loved to change recipes and see what he could do with different ingredients. My children could open a restaurant if they could ever agree on a menu! LOL And the cooking gene must still be working its magic in our family because my granddaughter loves to cook! She is taking over her mom's kitchen at least a couple of nights a week.
The real test of cooking skills is just around the calendar corner. Thanksgiving is the marathon of cooking. It's time to enjoy, entertain and indulge.Time to impress the family with grandmother's traditions and a few of your own innovations. Time for me to panic! All the magazines are ready. The turkey hot lines are ready. And most good cooks are already planning their shopping and cooking. My local WalMart has stocked all the traditional ingredients for stuffing and green bean casserole and candied yams and pumpkin pie. I'm already anxious! It's been years since I've cooked a memorable holiday dinner of any kind. I don't even have an oven! What to do, what to do...
After Thanksgiving there will be lots of "holiday" parties, office brunches, and church potlucks, followed by the next big cooking challenge- Christmas dinner. I plan to make a lot of vegetable trays. And I'm thinking of starting a new Christmas tradition- chicken nuggets with cranberry sauce! Just kidding Gran.
*Edited to add this note: I DO know how to eat- a friend recently acknowledged that my tip about adding a teaspoon of peanut butter to oatmeal was great. Now she can't imagine eating oatmeal without peanut butter. Trust me, you have to try it!
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