For skills discovered.
Cooking is not for everyone. It’s definitely not my cup of tea, that’s no secret, and my family can attest to it. Sadly, I didn’t inherit Mom’s love for cooking or her skill for creating her amazing meals. I really never had an interest for the craft, to be honest. For me it was more of a task, so I tended to look away whenever she tried to teach me. She cooked everything a ojo and the most I managed to pick up were guesstimations here and there to put together a quick meal.
Knowing well I was culinarily challenged, she gave us a famous cookbook shortly after we got married, dedication page and all. But, no matter how inspiring Mom’s inscription, whenever I considered taking on one of the dishes in this book, I’d quickly reconsider after reading the recipe. It was just as comedian Rita Rudner would say: “I read recipes the same way I read science fiction. I get to the end and say to myself ‘well, that’s not going to happen.’”
What did happen was the lockdown and the boredom and the extra time, which forced the flow of some creative juices I didn’t know I had. All of a sudden, I found myself trying my hand at some of Mom’s pinches of this and dashes of that, and creating some inventos of my own. Que?, I actually can cook! That, by the way, has been confirmed by my closest critics, my husband and kids. This trio is raw honest when it comes to food taste, sin pena, so when they say, “Wow, this is pretty good,” trust me, it must be. They’ve stopped adding Sriracha sauce and Ketchup to most of the food so I’m feeling quite accomplished.
Before lockdown, how can I put this…we ate. During lockdown, it’s more like dine. “Ya era hora,” Mom must be saying from above. Thanks, Mom, for the cookbook, I love reading the inscription. I think I’ll start reading the rest of the pages.
For skills discovered, today and always, I am thankful. What skills have you discovered during your lockdown? And what are you thankful for today?
I dedicate this post to my husband who celebrates a birthday today. Happy birthday, babe ?? thanks for never complaining about my cooking (or lack thereof). ❤️
Translation:
To my dearest children, Connie and Jose:
There’s a very old saying that says: ‘Love enters through the kitchen.’ I know very well that your love is blessed by God and is true and beautiful. In this book there are many easy and tasty recipes, I hope to try some of them.
Save this as a reminder of someone who prays every day for your happiness.
Receive a thousand kisses and hugs
from your mommy
Olga
Until next Thursday’s post…si Dios quiere.
“You never know what you can do until you try, and very few try unless they have to.” -C.S. Lewis
“The only reason I have a kitchen is because it came with the house.”
Better late than never, there is life beyond Ketchup. Love you.
There sure is! Thanks babe. Love you.
LOVE IT!! Such a sweet dedication to cherish. She knew you would come around to it. Happy Birthday wishes to your hubby!
Thank you!
Happy Birthday Ray!! Wishing you many, many more in good health and blessings. Connie, 2020 has been full of miracles, cooking and Benni! If and when life returns to normal, I can’t wait to try your cooking at work.?❤️
Another beautiful post, Connie…and now I can see who gave you your sensitive and meaningful writing skills! And your quotes are right on point. Happy Birthday, Ray, from Boop
LOVED today’s post. I am also quite culinary challenged, and my late mother gave me the exact same cookbook. Must be a Cuban thing. Needless to say, I have not read it much through the years. It is SOO much easier to call La Carreta and/or Sergio’s. We have made great friends with all their delivery employees — they have become part of our family.
So beautiful! I always look forward to your Thursday blog. I saw the dedication and your mom’s handwriting and reminded me of my mom that has Alzheimer’s. I received the book as a wedding gift, but never knew who gave it to me. Now, I also have mom’s book with notes on certain pages in her handwriting. It’s my treasure. Thanks for sharing!
Must have been a Cuban tradition to give this book to the “challenged cooks”. Glad you are able to use it. I just count on Andy to cook 🙂
Happy birthday Ray!!! much love , health and happiness.
Love Cary
Amiga! I have my Abuela’s copy! And Feliz Birthday to your hubby. Brownies when we’re cleared for visiting! ❤️❤️❤️
Connie, I loved your post. I feel like I wrote the first two paragraphs verbatim (except for the “ojo” part, my mom would say “al cálculo”. The rest of your story, however is a bit different. I still don’t cook, and it’s not because I don’t know how, I simply don’t like to, and when someone else in your house does a good job, why take away their pleasure to do so? Ha ha. My mom knew how I felt about cooking, so she never bothered to give me a cookbook, but I did learn one thing from her, when I do cook, I too do it “al cálculo” ;o) – and fortunately others don’t seem to complain. I guess they know that if they did, that would be a good excuse for me not to do it ever again. ;o)
Anyway, I loved your mom’s “dedicatoria”. It is warm and beautiful, expressing her love for the two of you. I love her handwriting, something you don’t see much of anymore.
Thank you for sharing this with us. Have a good weekend, and turn another page for yet another good recipe.