I’ve enjoyed cooking for as long as I can remember.
Growing up my parents enjoyed playing duplicate (competition) bridge and always seemed to be entertaining groups of people. My Dad cooked almost as much as my Mom.
While I started to cook on my own in the 80’s, it was when we moved to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area of Texas in 1991 that I began cooking more consistently.
Dale, the pastor at our small church, felt Saturday night should be a preparation for worship on Sunday. So, he would cook dinner for Anne. We were invited to participate a few times.
I enjoyed the theology underlying an excellent meal and Karen and I started our own version of “Sacred Saturday.” The Sunday mornings conversation after the service often revolved around “What did you cook last night?” There was perhaps an element of competition between Dale and I as we both tried to out-do the other.
At the time, we didn’t have much money. Saturday night became “our time” for Karen and me to reconnect after a busy week with young children, school events and sports. Our girls were fed dinner and allowed to watch Dr. Quinn – Medicine Women or Walker Texas Ranger.
I cooked and Karen and I talked over a glass of (often cheap) wine and enjoyed the sacredness of sharing a great meal together.
I continue to enjoy the sacredness of connecting with people around the table. Breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner – it really does not matter. There is something that happens when you share food with people that allows everyone to enjoy the uniqueness and wonder that makes us who we are.
We now live in the Nashville area. I continue to experiment with cooking techniques. There is little I won’t try. It could be Sous Vide, curing my own meat, baking in my steam convection oven, or grilling the perfect pizza – I enjoy learning.
I’m not always successful, but our friends seldom turn down an invitation to share our table.
And that’s just the way I like it.