Treat Yourself to a Home-cooked Meal

Tonight I engaged in something that I hope will become a normal occurrence in my life: sitting with friends, in a semi-formal environment, to share our time, and the foods that we have prepared. I know it has been said countless times before, but food that you make from scratch tastes so much better than its manufactured counterpart; physically, because the ingredients are better and handled with care, and mentally, because you know you have accomplished something by creating a dish.

I was invited to a dinner party and didn’t really know what to make. I wound up preparing a fairly simple artichoke dip from a recipe taken from “The Joy of Cooking.” The pleasure I received shredding the cheese, chopping the ingredients, staring at the dish bake in the oven, and watching my friends scarf it down was one I haven’t felt in quite some time.

The main course, again prepared by one of the dinner party guests, was as elegant as it was reserved, a variation of chicken with noodles. But by the time I attempted to eat the “White chocolate fruit tart,” prepared by the host, my senses had had enough. I’m not sure if it was the relaxed atmosphere or the fact that our taste buds had been rejuvenated from their dormant state by the foods we had eaten already but that dessert actually shut down my brain for an instant. [I am reminded of the misanthropic food critic at the end of Disney/Pixar's Ratatouillie when, after he tasted the rat's concoction, the audience is transported to the point in his childhood when he first recognized the power of good food.] I’m not saying it had quite that effect but it was close…

Add to the edible spread an evening, without television or other distractions, spent with friends, in a warm environment and you definitely have the recipe for happiness.

I challenge you to fix yourself a nice meal and take the time to savor the food. It does not have to be something slaved over for hours. Find a simple food that you enjoy eating and preparing, pair it with a nice (non-expensive) wine and simply relax… if only for a few hours. You won’t regret it.