Cooking Observations

A thought that has been reoccurring to me over that couple of days is how less stressful cooking seems to have become.

Two nights ago I made Rosemary and Garlic Roast Chicken with carrots and potatoes. I haven’t made this dish too many times, so it’s not a practice makes perfect situation. However, I realized as I was chopping the potatoes and carrots, as the butter, garlic, and rosemary melded together on the stove, how much simpler this had become. I remember freaking out over not getting things done in order, or something ridiculous like that. It seemed like the dish took forever to put together as well as forever to cook (1 1/2 hrs covered, 30-1hr uncovered). This time it didn’t. The serenity of making a favorite dish and no hiccups was very nice.

I had the same feeling last night while making a much less involved dinner: sloppy joes. Husband doesn’t like store bought sauce so we mix our own concoction. Again, the hamburger was browning away while I mixed all the spices, ketchup, mustard, and water in my big measuring cup (4 cup). Yes, a relatively simple dish, but again I had serenity wash over me.

(This was the set up for chicken and herb cous cous.)