Bring It Back Home

When special occasions come up, excluding holidays, why does it seem necessary to eat out?
Why in order to celebrate a special occasion do we feel the need to blow tons of money on a restaurant with so many stars, or such and such owns it but actually hasn't cooked there in years. What is wrong with our own tables? Our own kitchens and our home hands?

Recently I have taken to having casual dinner parties. In fact tonight we had a combined birthday party for my father and my fiance's grandmother. Yes it is stressful picking a menu that everyone will like, making sure that there not too much for or two little, making sure their is enough variety, or planning and then executing the time so everything comes out as it should and so many other little things to think about.

Ultimately it is worth it. The oohs and aws at first for the appetizers. I made bruschetta, zucchini corn fritters, and had a plate of cheese and fresh figs. Then as the main meal is cooked the excited looks of anticipation of what's to come. The questions of what's this marinated in? Where did you buy that etc. Tonight we grilled local organic free range beef sirloin that was raised just on the other side of the Cascades near Wenatchee the same area that my dad goes deer hunting ever year. Fresh asparagus grilled with olive oil, sea salt. pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice. Twice baked potatoes full of real bacon, sour cream and cheddar cheese. Shrimp that I shelled, and deveined myself. Then marinated for two days in a mixture or garlic, parsley, basil, olive oil, lemon juice, sea salt and pepper before being skewered and grilled. My mom brought along a fresh green salad with radishes, carrots, cucumbers celery and green pepper. Finally what is a birthday party without dessert? Just as we think we can not simply eat another bite I bring out dessert. There eyes pop open in amazement. You made that?!!! Wow!!! Suddenly they just found some more space in their stomachs for Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte or Black Forest Cake in English, for my dad and a cherry pie for my fiance's grandmother because she likes pies not cakes.

The comments of glee, the excitement of the meal, the success of a weeks worth of planning and finally the meal itself. Seeing the ones you love most of all, the ones closest to you enjoying themselves. around your own table, it the food you cooked yourself simply can't be beat. It is a very gratifying feeling. If for nothing else being in your own home you can feel relaxed. You don't have to worry about judging the quality of the waitress. worry if you stay to long and chat over drinks and desserts, fret it an order may have been forgotten or misinterpreted somewhere between diner and chef. In your own home you can cook what you want the way you want, you can eat your fill, and enjoy your family and friends while being yourself. It is so luxurious to retire to your own couch after a satisfying meal and just lay back and chat.

So why don't we seem to have dinner parties at home more often? Is it because the dinner party of yesteryear from the time of our parents and grandparents seemed to stuffy? To rigid that we stepped away from home entertaining? Is it because now both spouses in the family work and so there is no time? Or is it because we are lazy? I think it has to do with privacy.

For many I think it has to do the fact that our homes are our sanctuaries. They are the places we come to and let down our hair and get away from the world outside after a long day. By inviting people into it, even our families, is like letting the world into the last place you can call our own. It means having to clean up your home, hide those things you may not want just anyone to see, and simply not lounge around in or underwear, watching TV.

We need to get off our lazy butts more and open up our homes. The end result far outweighs the trouble it took in the first place.

So clean up your place, whip up something tasty. It doesn't have to be anything fancy or elaborate. In fact despite all the effort on the food. It was still served on papers plates tonight. It is about the quality of the company and the food. Not the decor your home offers. It is about taking a little time to show those special people in your life that you love them enough to have them over and cooked something tasty in their honor. So the next time you have a special occasion forget the restaurant and bring back home to your table.

Enjoy!