Cooking for Myself

Someone said that my husband is blessed because I like to cook. Maybe that's true, but the real truth is I am

even more blessed. 

I am so fortunate that he is a hearty eater, adventurous about food, has no food issues worth speaking about and is not a picky eater. It would be no fun at all to cook for someone who wouldn't even try something new. Both of our sons are also fun to cook for, for the same reasons, and so are their respective girlfriends.

The real truth is that I'm kind of cooking for myself. I want to feed my loved ones healthy, nourishing and delicious food, because I love them, but that is only a part of it. Cooking is a major creative outlet for me. It would be so disappointing if my efforts were met with ambivalence or outright rejection.

That is not to say I haven't had some spectacular failures. A particular tamale casserole stands out in the family memory. Despite the failures, my guys are all willing to at least try any food I set before them. 

It might seem like an insignificant thing, but if you are the cook in your household, I think you'll get me. I like to cook. He likes to eat. AND he is a very hard worker who is physically fit and can eat all he wants to without concern. Lucky me, I can cook and bake as I please, and he can eat as he pleases. 

I also think that it is profoundly satisfying to have some control over health and wellness in our lives. The first place to address long-term wellness is on your plate. As much as I love gardening and contributing to our food supply in a healthful way, it would be wasted effort if my family would only eat chicken nuggets.

The selfish side of all of that is to have someone TO cook for. Someone I want to cook for. If I were unhappy in my marriage, cooking might feel like a chore instead of a joy. 

The blessing is mine. I get to embrace a creative desire in myself and use it to support health and happiness in the ones I love.