Rain, and lots of it...

The cold rain hasn't stopped the boys from playing outside. A break in the clouds or even a steady drizzle has them putting on any available dry footwear. I coax them into hats and jackets, and remind them to be careful.

"It's slippery outside. Be careful on your bike."
"OK Mom, we'll be careful."

I stay inside, warm and dry, looking out the window every five minutes or so. For me, it is cookbook weather. I make a hot cup of tea and sit down at the kitchen table with a nice stack of favorites beside me. There's Nigella, Jerry Traunfeld, Heidi Swanson and the Barefoot Contessa, all set out to join me for the rainy afternoon. After sorting through half the pile, rereading old favorites and studying the pictures and techniques, I set out to make something delicious.

I set some water onto boil, get out the measuring cups and salt, roll up my sleeves and get to work. Really though, it is more like play. I get to mess around in the kitchen and create edible expressions of love and care. First, cornmeal mush with butter and smoked cheese, as the kids will be hungry from playing outside like puppies. Next, I sautee some onions for a while, to allow time to chop and steam vegetables for a spicy peanut stir-fry. There's a pot of rice cooked yesterday to go with that.

Then onto something sweet. There's a favorite recipe for bars, with oats, dried cranberries and ginger. I double the recipe, and soon find out that this is best made one batch at a time. Oh well, it makes for a pleasant granola. I make another cup of tea while I wrestle with the dishes. The boys burst in from outside, smelling like wet dogs. Their pants are soaked up to their knees, but their eyes are shining. They soon get changed into warm, dry clothes and join me at the table to enjoy bowls of cornmeal mush. It is an honor, to care for my family in this way.