|
By Susan Hosmer
Given the time of year, I know I should be writing about the holidays. I should be telling stories about how my in-laws’ culinary traditions (i.e. creamed onions and scrapple) differ from my family (Chinese food and a movie). However, in 2007, life took a major turn in the Hosmer household and cooking has never been the same.
Ghost of Christmas Past
I love to cook and whether it was dinner for 2 or 12, time was never an issue for me. The more steps, mise en place and cooking time, the better. I took great pleasure in making green curry paste from scratch or smoking pork butt for eight hours. Cassoulet? No problem. (OK… I confess… I bought the duck confit.) Nevertheless, I was definitely a doer and could not relate to the 30-minute meal. I always wondered, “Who are these people?” I work long hours and still find time to cook.
Ghost of Christmas Present
On April 27, 2007, my cooking style changed forever. Dylan Alexander Hosmer was born. It started off with complete abstinence. The kitchen was transformed into a sanitization room where only bottles and pacifiers were allowed. For the first time, food was a way to refuel and we lived on take-out. My favorite Argentinean place knew us by voice and the delivery guy would always ask how the baby was. About two months in, I was sick of all our delivery options. It was time to take back my kitchen. But how would I find time to cook when I barely had time to shower? Flipping through Bon Appétit, my eyes stopped on Fast, Easy, Fresh. Hmmm. These look good. Why haven’t I noticed this section before? I grabbed Food & Wine and Gourmet. They also have similar sections. I finally got it. Rachael Ray, I finally get it!
Ghost of Christmas Future
Dylan has started solid foods and I am looking forward to him getting teeth, mostly because food gets a lot more interesting once you can chew. What does our future in cooking hold for the Hosmers? I see nights of quick meals and weekends of leisurely ones. But one thing is for sure, I am excited to watch Dylan explore the world of food and develop his palate.
What I’m:
Reading The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp
Watching Gossip Girl (sorry, I can’t help myself)
Eating Meals that take less than 30 minutes and comme Ça’s French Onion soup
Listening to The sounds of Fisher Price Nature’s Touch Cradle Swing and Baby Einstein’s ExerSaucer
|