The Culinary Coordinator Quits

It's pretty much common knowledge that I'm on the borderline of being a culinary genius.  I tend to think of recipes as suggestions?  Guidelines?  Then I throw caution to the wind, take my ideas, and run with them.  With that being said, it's also a known fact that the same tactics mentioned above do not apply to baking.  Baking is something that cannot be tampered with.  One wrong measurement and the whole thing is a disaster.  Of course, I know this personally from when I had that big catastrophe and started a fire.

With all that being said, Momma's work load is about to decrease!  I am taking a temporary(?) hiatus from being the go-to gal for dinners around here.  I put in a lot of time and thought into weekly meal planning.  I scour the various cookbooks we have here at home, and I search for new things online to add variety into our meals.  I pilfer through the pantry, freezer, and fridge to account for the ingredients I already have on hand, and tirelessly go to work on my grocery list.  I write down the meal we'll be having as well as the ingredients I need to pick up to prepare it.  It's all a very rigorous, scientific process.  When it comes time for unloading the groceries, I think to myself "self, what days would be best to prepare each given meal according to my husband's schedule?"  As that determines what should be frozen, cooked rather soon, or can wait.

Then, being the good little diligent wife I am, I set out on a cooking endeavor and start preparing dinner.  And then guess what happens??  My husband tells me he isn't coming home.  Just doesn't come home.  Or even better, he doesn't know WHEN he'll be home... tonight, tomorrow, 4 days from now?  Who the hell knows?  So, there I am left with food to be wasted.  All of that time spent planning, preparing, cooking... WASTED.  My personal favorite, which just occurred not too long ago was this:  I get to work in the kitchen to make dinner as fast as I can because everyone is starving.  Sloppy Joes are ready to be slapped on buns, and Sweet Potato Fries are about to jump out of the oven.  And then!!!!  Jason leaves to go on a fire.  Well, I might as well eat what I want and feed the rest to the dogs.  Half of the time I have to make Elise something different than what we eat anyway, so it's not exactly like I'm preparing a meal for me AND her.  So, one could possibly see this frustration.  There's other things I could do with all that time... and even though I rock at it, I'm not exactly cooking for my entertainment.

So, until further notice I am taking a break from recipe searching, list making, ingredient sorting, meal planning, and anything else related to the preparation of dinner.  Everyone is now on their own to fend for themselves.  Well, besides Elise of course.  I make her dinner every night so that won't change.  As far as Jason and myself?  Cereal, sandwiches, and Pizza Rolls....  make it happen.

I also want to add:  Since I won't be wasting time doing the above mentioned items, I also won't be wasting time cleaning up the kitchen either.  I think I might take on scrap booking, knitting, or basket weaving.