I feel like I've blogged about this before, but this year I've started to develop a love of cooking for Jimmy. I task Jimmy with finding a recipe. After work, I head directly to the grocery store and buy ingredients for the night.
I'm learning that chicken thighs save lives: it's cheap, it's delicious, it's moist and it's so easy to cook. I've compiled the recipes that I've completed on my pinterest board! I've made all those things. I also make enough for Jimmy to have lunch the next day.
After dinner Jimmy provides me with with so much unsolicited appreciation and affection. "Thank you baby it was delicious" as if I've achieved some amazing feat. "Let me do the dishes!" He shouts as I put things away. It's so wonderful and makes me so happy when he responds that way. Food is love.
He's usually home by 6:30 and dinner is ready. One time, he came home earlier. To my excitement he was able to help me like those couples on TV! I gave him basic instructions and after completing them he just sat down. I was annoyed. As if the rest of the meal was going to prepare itself! I thought about it for a moment, cooking is the last thing he wants to do after work and forcing him wouldn't help. So I just took a deep breath and made a mess in the kitchen while he scrolled his phone. He offered to help when I was basically done, (of course.) He proclaimed how delicious and it amazing it was and gave me a giant kiss. I compare it to how I never offer to drive. Driving is the last thing I want to do and he knows this, so he ends up driving us to restaurants and events and always finds amazing parking. I should show more gratitude for this. While I can't say Jimmy loves driving all that time, I think it's fair to say that we find balance with things that we don't mind doing for each other. I feel pretty lucky that we're able to compliment each other in this way.
Cooking has allowed me to become creative with left overs. I always take home extra rice to make fried rice and recently I turned a box of leftover veggies from a party platter into soup! No waste ever! One of the best moments was turning cherry tomatoes into a light marinara for pasta!
I should take better pictures of my creations, but for now... here's an Instastory about my journey with Emeril Braised Chicken Thighs and tiny hands.
