Friday:) From the Fire to the Frying Pan

“Cooking is at once child’s play and adult joy. And cooking done with care is an act of love.” ― Craig Claiborne

**************

You’ll be happy to know that my trip to Chicago was not just all about going to my favorite restaurants or eating my favorite Chicago foods. Besides doing a lot of eating, I also did a lot of cooking. Food, family, and friends always go hand in hand. 

I love to cook and very rarely have a chance to go crazy in the kitchen. While I’m visiting at Mom’s, I decided to make a big batch of spaghetti with meat sauce. I’ve never learned to cook for one, so poor Mom has a freezer full of my cooking frenzy.

Homemade sauce with lots of garlic and lots of leftovers. That was last week. Mom had a lot of ground beef in the freezer, so of course, I had to think of something to make with it.

This week, I decided to make a big batch of  hamburger vegetable soup, and another big pot of vegetable soup for my sister. She is eating vegetarian, no meat, and just healthy food. (Not me. I’m still a culinary heathen.) JoAnn and I went to the store and bought 5 lbs, of potatoes, 3 lbs. of onions, 2 lbs. of carrots, a lb. of frozen peas, and a large bag of celery, a huge can of diced tomatoes, AND yes, I used it all. Lots of peeling, chopping and stirring, but it was delicious and worth all the effort. More containers for Mom’s freezer and JoAnn’s freezer too.

I told you that I tend to get carried away. It was very tasty, and yes, plenty of garlic. 

I love cooking, I love family, I love sharing my loves with others. 

Mom’s freezer is just as jammed as her fridge. Disregard the Kemps chocolate ice cream. It’s Fiday and it’s Black Russian Friday. As it was Thursday, and Wednesday, and Tuesday. (Did I say that out loud?)