Crying and Cooking

Meal preparation is one of the rougher times around the home. Kapaun wants to be held. Damaris wants to be held. I want to be held. I usually have to let him cry while I am flitting around the kitchen. I don't like it, but I have to prepare food for ten people so I must.  I don't think I've ever blogged about food.  Which is crazy pants because:

1.  John loves food.  We talk off and on all day and a majority of our conversations are about food and what we should try to concoct. 
2.   I love food.  Since I was young, I've dreamed about being a chef.  I wanted to major in culinary arts in college, but wasn't aware of any options at the time.  If I could do it all over, I would major in culinary arts specializing in pastries and study at a French cooking school abroad.  Dreamy, huh?
4.   Seventy-five percent of my day is about food.  After breakfast, it is breakfast again. Then snack, then Did I get a snack? Off to lunch we go.  Then a snack.  Then the Main Event.
 5.   I spend a lot of time planning, preparing, and cooking our meals.  Like way too dingle dong long.  I am 12 years into marriage and I still think I have to prepare a feast each night.

So, why do I never post about my food adventures.
BECAUSE, I can't take food pictures to save my life.  I will have the most beautiful creation and it will look like play dough in the picture.  I don't know what I am doing wrong so I passed on that game for so long.  I cook a wide variety of ethnic foods, but sadly the pictures never turn out.  I hope to share more of our favorites as baking and cooking are truly my love language.  I love preparing a feast and watching people enjoy it.

So, how does all this relate to crying?  This particular day I decided to make Johnny his favorite French Onion Soup.  Our other children are able to tune out Kapaun's crying, but not Lillie.  She can't stand him crying so she will always hold him and perch him on the counter while I'm cooking and preparing each night's meal.  I adore watching him watch me.

The Meal We Enjoyed Last Night

by Lindsay Boever

(I felt like this was a book title)

Kale Salad

The best salad in the world.  

I've misplaced the recipe from last night, but once I find it I will share it.

I almost ate the whole large salad bowl.

Pioneer Woman's French Onion Soup

Cinnamon Pull-apart Bread

The drawing room is in eye shot of the kitchen.  Lillie left the counter to go color.  I thought this picture was timeless.  He sat so contently on her lap while she drew.

Well, I guess he sometimes wrinkled the papers.

Then, he would look outside.

My favorite picture of fat cheeks.

Oh yes, coloring.  I am learning so much especially with my foot on the table.