This has been a difficult week for me and many close to me and to thousands of people I don't know. Never before have I been reminded so much of the preciousness of life. My heart aches for the families of those killed in the Haitian earthquake and for those dying and left behind. The faces of despair and anguish make me want to pack a little bag and take whatever flight I can to go and help. An American doctor today has witnessed a woman's three children die, and another dying of infection. We have donated to the Red Cross and are emptying the closets for clothes and supplies, but it just doesn't seem like enough...
Thoughts and prayers are out to a dear friend who is suffering the sudden loss of his mother and to another who's beloved "Gram" has passed away. A hospital co-worker and her daughter were killed in an auto accident, and the 5 year anniversary of "Paddy's" passing was marked this week.
I remember as a child, everything bad happened to everyone around me. Rarely, with the exception of the passing of my grandfather, was I ever directly affected by someone's death. I was protected by degrees of separation where these events were experienced passively. Sadly, as I grow older, know more people and know more "older" people, these events become closer and closer to me.
The only thing I can do is hug a little tighter, be a little sweeter, and love a whole lot more...
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Sunday Roast
One of my New Year resolutions is to cook more. Over the Christmas holidays, I realized how much I enjoy being in the kitchen. I baked a truckload of cookies (as the waistline can prove) and made a few family dinners. I took personal delight and pride seeing how much my family enjoyed what I made.
I am married to a professional chef turned real estate agent. As he has become busier in real estate (just busier, not yet quit the second job busy) our delicious home-cooked meals have become fewer and far between. I have decided to cook at least 3 dinners (REAL dinners) a week, with a new tradition of the Sunday roast. The Sunday roast, of course, is nothing new. In our house, however, the only think I've roasted were chickens. I believe I have perfected the roasted chicken with fresh herbs. Even ventured into making homemade gravy. My husband says that my gravy is perfect... I take that as a huge complement coming from a chef.
Last Sunday, I started my roast tradition with a pork roast. I like pork and I think a good pork roast tends to be forgotten amongst it's more popular siblings; pork chops, tenderloin and ham. We had a real family dinner with my parents, my brother and his family joining us.
Today I shall attempt to conquer the roast beef. Growing up, I HATED roast beef. It always seemed too dry (gravy was too "icky" for me as a child) and didn't have too much flavor. It wasn't very appetizing being served next to boxed mashed potatoes and canned string beans. Don't get me wrong, my mom was and still is an excellent cook--she just had a small army to feed and for ease of execution used prepared foods. I grew up in the era when the microwave was the most important tool in the kitchen.
Gotta go. It's time to take the roast out of the refrigerator and let it sit for an hour at room temperature, just as the recipe says. I'm going to roast it directly on the oven rack and make gravy from the drippings. I'll let you know how it turns out...
I am married to a professional chef turned real estate agent. As he has become busier in real estate (just busier, not yet quit the second job busy) our delicious home-cooked meals have become fewer and far between. I have decided to cook at least 3 dinners (REAL dinners) a week, with a new tradition of the Sunday roast. The Sunday roast, of course, is nothing new. In our house, however, the only think I've roasted were chickens. I believe I have perfected the roasted chicken with fresh herbs. Even ventured into making homemade gravy. My husband says that my gravy is perfect... I take that as a huge complement coming from a chef.
Last Sunday, I started my roast tradition with a pork roast. I like pork and I think a good pork roast tends to be forgotten amongst it's more popular siblings; pork chops, tenderloin and ham. We had a real family dinner with my parents, my brother and his family joining us.
Today I shall attempt to conquer the roast beef. Growing up, I HATED roast beef. It always seemed too dry (gravy was too "icky" for me as a child) and didn't have too much flavor. It wasn't very appetizing being served next to boxed mashed potatoes and canned string beans. Don't get me wrong, my mom was and still is an excellent cook--she just had a small army to feed and for ease of execution used prepared foods. I grew up in the era when the microwave was the most important tool in the kitchen.
Gotta go. It's time to take the roast out of the refrigerator and let it sit for an hour at room temperature, just as the recipe says. I'm going to roast it directly on the oven rack and make gravy from the drippings. I'll let you know how it turns out...
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Solitude
Ahhh. The kids are at school, the husband just left for the office and the only sound I hear is the humming of the computer. This, to me, is bliss.
I am probably one of the most social persons you could ever know. Just ask my husband. I'll talk to anyone--in the checkout line, in elevators. He took me to his company's Christmas party (where I had only previously met one person) and we were among the last to leave because me and my new friends were doing the "Stanky Leg" dance in the middle of the living room.
That being said, as much as I love meeting new people, love talking and being with friends, I totally cherish my alone time. Some folks love to know that there's always someone in the next room. Not me. I don't get bored. There's always something to do that needs to be done, or doesn't need to be done.
I think today I'll try to make a dent in the playroom, or maybe the closet. I could put the living room back together now that the Christmas decorations are down. Or I could take a nap...
I am probably one of the most social persons you could ever know. Just ask my husband. I'll talk to anyone--in the checkout line, in elevators. He took me to his company's Christmas party (where I had only previously met one person) and we were among the last to leave because me and my new friends were doing the "Stanky Leg" dance in the middle of the living room.
That being said, as much as I love meeting new people, love talking and being with friends, I totally cherish my alone time. Some folks love to know that there's always someone in the next room. Not me. I don't get bored. There's always something to do that needs to be done, or doesn't need to be done.
I think today I'll try to make a dent in the playroom, or maybe the closet. I could put the living room back together now that the Christmas decorations are down. Or I could take a nap...
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