| As a child I used to watch my mother cook. I | | | | with the family but the home is hardly ever lived |
| would help her prepare the peas for dinner, taking | | | | in because everyone is at work, the car sits in |
| them out of their pods and placing them in a bowl | | | | the driveway looking pretty and the holiday is the |
| at the kitchen table. Potatoes were washed, | | | | only time the family have quality time together! |
| peeled and sliced and placed in a saucepan of | | | | No-one has time to cook! They get home from |
| water. Meat was bought from the local butchers, | | | | work, take something out of the freezer, pop it in |
| taken home and prepared fresh on the day. My | | | | the microwave and, hey presto! A family meal! |
| mother would usually prepare a dessert; rhubarb | | | | That's all well and good maybe once a week, but |
| picked fresh from the garden, prepared and | | | | every day? No wonder the population is becoming |
| made into a rhubarb crumble and served with | | | | unhealthy and overweight! |
| home made custard was not uncommon. Cakes | | | | A couple of years ago I saw an advertisement |
| were baked weekly for a little something to have | | | | on television for a high tech kitchen. The couple |
| with a cup of tea. The family would "come | | | | on screen were admiring the oven and hob, the |
| together" at meal times. I would hear about my | | | | stainless steel handles and knobs - everything was |
| fathers day at work, the type of day my mom | | | | black and silver and shone like a thousand moons |
| had, what kind of day my brother had at school. I | | | | in a dark night sky. The woman suddenly took |
| was able to talk about my day and if I had any | | | | out a packet of bread rolls, placed them on a tray |
| worries or problems. The kitchen was always the | | | | and proceeded to put them into the oven. The |
| busiest room in the house; the heart of the home. | | | | man stopped her in her tracks by shouting "you're |
| At school we were taught "domestic science" | | | | not actually going to use that, are you?" Yes, it's |
| which not only involved preparing, cooking and | | | | nice to have a large kitchen with all the |
| serving a meal but also scrubbing the larder floor! | | | | attachments and gadgets but apparently, it's just |
| "It's all part of being a wife and mother!" my tutor | | | | something to look at and admire, not to use! |
| declared. If you didn't know how to cook, how | | | | There's nothing quite like eating a home cooked |
| would you cope when you eventually married? | | | | meal. Prepared from scratch it is much tastier and |
| "The way to a mans heart is through his | | | | more nutritious than something pulled out of the |
| stomach", we were told. Whether this is true or | | | | freezer. It's also very satisfying to know that you |
| not I'm not sure but men, (and women) certainly | | | | have cooked a tasty and healthy meal for your |
| appreciate a good home cooked meal. | | | | family. Even if you don't know how to cook, |
| Nowadays a lot of people seem to be busy | | | | there really is no excuse as there areplenty of |
| working full time in high income jobs in the cities | | | | cookery books out there! |
| to pay for an overpriced mortgage just to keep | | | | So next time you go to the freezer or order a |
| up with "Jones's". The attitude is "I want, I want". | | | | take-away, think first! I am sure that your family |
| Material possessions seem to play an important | | | | would appreciate a home cooked meal once in a |
| part in their lives. Yes, it's nice to have a nice | | | | while! Go on, try it - you just might like it! |
| home and a nice car and a holiday every year | | | | |