Tonight we had the beef in BBQ sauce over homemade buns (baked yesterday) with steamed carrots, Cole slaw, and oven-roasted potato wedges (done in beef fat). Casual and tasty. Today I just had to reheat the beef, add BBQ sauce, slice and steam the carrots, and make the Cole slaw.
Here are just a few reasons that I'm really loving having spent Monday cooking:
- When I discovered I should have started garden seeds 2 weeks ago, I had the time to quickly get some of the seeds started before serving dinner, then finished with the task after dinner.
- My daughter had her boyfriend for dinner with us. Because I'd planned our meals out in advance, I didn't have to take time to think of what to serve.
- I had extra time to pack up and ship a gift to my new great-nephew. This was no easy task, as it's framed and contains a pane of glass. (My daughter got her start in paid artwork in her teens doing letter brush. She paints the letters of a name or first initial, using flora and fauna in the letters. Even though she's moved on to illustrating books, portraiture, and commercial artwork, she occasionally gets a commission for letter brush or caricatures. I commissioned her to do my great-nephew's name in Scottish highland flora and fauna.) I wrapped and wrapped the framed artwork in bubble wrap. I think it will survive transit halfway across the US.
- A repairman arrived this afternoon to see if he could repair our stove. I had time to "babysit" him and didn't have to worry about not having time to get dinner started.
- Tonight, Wednesday, is usually one of my daughters' cooking nights. Although I took over for her (part of my personal birthday gift to my daughters, cooking for them this month), it wasn't that big of an ordeal for me. I like that I was able to do something for someone else with a fair amount of ease for me.
Yep, I think this is working out pretty well for me. We'll see how the second half of the month goes when I get there.
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| here's one of my daughter's letter brushes |
Oh, I love the beautiful artwork!
ReplyDeleteJo
Thank you on behalf of my daughter, Jo.
DeleteIt sounds like the prep ahead of time is really paying off. Does you daughter have an Etsy shop or web page where we could see more things she's done? I like the colorful name she did.
ReplyDeleteHi Live and Learn,
DeleteI'm enjoying the easier cooking for dinners.
She does have a web page, but I don't know if she's updated it recently. I'll have to ask her. My daughter tells me that letter brush is traditionally very bright and colorful. She toned it down just a little for this one (at my asking) so it would blend well with the nursery colors. I won't know what the parents think for another couple of days.
Beautiful work your daughter did.
ReplyDeleteThank you on behalf of my daughter, Cheryl.
DeleteYour daughter's artwork is stunning. Thank you for including it!
ReplyDeleteWorking ahead on meals is always gratifying later. I find myself framing it as "future me will be glad I put in the effort now". :)
Hi Kris,
DeleteThank you on behalf of my daughter. I'll convey the compliments to her.
It's sometimes hard to sacrifice time up front to benefit later. How you phrased it would be very motivating. I'll remember that!
What a lovely gift by your daughter and smart prep work by you!
ReplyDeleteHi Lynn,
DeleteThank you on behalf of my daughter. I'll be conveying the compliments to her.
I'm grateful to have easier dinner work the next couple of weeks. I've been able to get so much done everyday as a result.