There are a few things that I can do in the kitchen that makes this pretend cowgirl super proud. I can decorate, clean and organize the heck out it for sure. But cooking? Not so much. I know you’re probably wondering how I grew my big hearted and kind kiddos, Boy Wonder and Sweet Girl. It was a big pot of this mama’s love. And it overflowed every single day. Sighhhh.
So, as a general rule, my cooking accolades are limited to my prized seven recipes, all from scratch. As I’ve mentioned in my blog before, there are seven days in a week so I deliver seven meals to my perfectly set dinner table. Which also happens to be another love of mine.
And the way I see it, why over achieve in the kitchen when there’s so much fun to be had elsewhere in life? Especially when I cross the cattleguard to travel and shop.
As for Cowboy, he was plenty used to my rotating seven dishes. And he absolutely loved them!
Okay, I’m not as naive as my nineteen year old newlywed self once was so his love of my dishes may be a complete falsehood. Sometimes my mind thinks untruths. But always to my advantage. Heehee.
After tasting a few of my not so good dishes (before I mastered my seven) I wouldn’t be surprised if Cowboy made a habit of taking a detour to his mama’s house for some real home cooking before he came home to eat mine. But, I’m good with that and I would do the exact same thing. Especially since my mother-in-law can outcook anyone with her book of church lady recipes. Why even try to compete? Those ladies are the real deal in the kitchen with their aprons, bibles and casserole dishes. Can I get an Amen?
When we were first married, my mother-in-law gave me her recipe cards of Cowboy’s favorite childhood recipes.
There was one problem with her recipes…
They called for a scosche of this, a pinch of that and a handful of other things. What the heck is a scosche and how much is a pinch and a handful? This was pre-google folks, so I was flying in the dark.
COWBOY: (Hanging his cowboy hat up as he’s coming in from outside) What’s for dinner? I’m starving.
ME: (Dancing around him because that’s what I do) It’s one of your favorite recipes from your mom.
COWBOY: All right, can’t wait to try it.
As he’s taking his first bite, I’m watching his face for a reaction because I know he’s going to love it.
ME: Is it good? Does it taste just like her’s?
Crickettes churping….
ME: Well?
COWBOY: Well… it definitely doesn’t taste like my mom’s.
ME: (Getting excited because I’m the forever optimist) Is it better than hers?
Crickettes churping (again).
COWBOY: No.
ME: Really? How can that be? I followed her recipe and didn’t substitute anything (like I usually do). I don’t know what happened.
COWBOY: Let me see her recipe.
ME: (Handing it to him) See? The only thing I wasn’t sure of was the scosch thing. So I used a heaping cup of it. And I used a half of a cup for the ingredient that called for a smidge since I wasn’t sure of that one either.
COWBOY: (Rubbing his face and chuckling) Humm, I don’t think that was right…for either ingredient.
Looking defeated as I sat down in my chair.
ME: Why does this keep happening to me?
COWBOY: (Hugging me scoschly) I don’t think the kitchen is the place for you.
‘Til next Sunday y’all- xo, Tammy
