A Miracle has Occurred

It may not sounds a miracle to you-but it is to me and my family.

I MADE LASAGNA FROM SCRATCH LAST NIGHT!

And I actually enjoyed doing it too!!!

Ok seriously I tell people I have not cooked in a “few years” but if I am honest with myself it is over decade. I pretty much only make salads and sandwiches, the occasional contributions to spaghetti sauce or things that are already half pre-made. A lot of lunch stuff –but never any dinner stuff.

No joke.

Why might you ask? If you read my book you will know. It is something I have little time for, easy to delegate, most people around me are passionate about cooking and happy to do it, and I get many others things done while cooking is being done (how did I manage to co-author a book etc.?). Simply: I have not made space in my life for cooking nor has the need been there. I have focused on other things. Cooking was not a top priority.

I used to cook. Quite a bit. Nothing fancy but all yummy. I am actually pretty good at it. Then my husband’s culinary skills got more extensive and broad and he took over-his food is out of my league. Then I had three kids who love helping to cook or cooking on their own and I was pretty much happily out of the game.

I have always thought I have not liked cooking.

But over the years I am drawn to ripping out recipes from magazines (and never referring to them) or feeling envious of a friend who came and whipped up a curry at my cottage so expertly, or hearing of others enjoying  cooking after work and thinking to myself “why not me?”

And I have never done anything about these passing thoughts. Nada.

It has always been my plan to cook when I am retired or something when it is time for it to be a pleasure. To be like in Europe where you go to the market every day and chose you meal. That appeals to me a whole lot more than making a monthly list for Costco or planning the weekly meals and grocery shopping for massive quantities from a list. But remember. I am all about efficiency.

But somehow the pleasure in cooking (if there is any for me) is somehow not congruent with being efficient.

Think Eat Pray Love. This is more me.

I also the same way about gardening that one day I will like it (or do it). Nobody believes me though... to say I am out of tune with my more domestic side (if it is there at all) i an understatement.

So yesterday I worked all day but needed a break and my Mom and I met up and walked to the village –had a bite-and then went to do a quick grocery and walked back. I got back to work for 4 more hours and then put the radio on at 6:30pm with the news and got busy. I even forgot an ingredient and had to go back in the car to the grocery store and was CALM AND RELAXED about this.

Man I have changed.

And BTW my lasagna was MEAN. so so so yummy. Everyone gave it a 10/10 after they pulled themselves off the floor from shock to speak.

I have changed. My life has changed. So far I have found myself in a pile of consulting work (a good problem to have I am thinking!) Although this lifestyle and career is very very different for me and the pace and schedule a HUGE transition for a corporate girl like me..it has some benefits. Lots of cons too-but some definite benefits.

One of them is being able to walk to the market with mommy and feed my family at night. And between it all make a lot more money per hour while working less hours

It also has instability, beginner’s luck, lots of obstacles, hard  tough schools, never being able to get work off my mind, less of a line between work and home, and did I mention no benefits, insurance, bonus or stability? 

But so far? Not so bad. In fact..good. Really good if I am honest.

I made lasagna. This is big.

And it was damn delicious.

Next week pasta with chicken, homemade marinara and boccahini!

My world is changing. And I am flowing.

Never has my word of the year had as much meaning for me than in 2015.