Have Long, Tasty Meals Together.....

[samparnell]

Buono Appetito!

The "fast" world is getting us quickly to nowhere. We are missing out on the true taste of good food and the company that accentuates the flavour. I even wonder sometimes if that particular food has less value within, if not eaten in an environment of friendship, thoughtfulness and even inspiration.

Some of us grew up when "slow" food was the norm. When gathering as family and friends was an event, not something that needed to get done. When home made cooking was in vogue. When tasting quality food was a joy. When no one had a secondary or even third activity to attend to, while the meal was occuring.

I hear that Italy is bringing back "slow" food. I like the concept. I am sure my Italian ancestors are making the most of it, with a nice wine to wash it down. And I'll bet the conversation is worth the wait. Not to mention, the powers of easy digestion will probably spark a number of books down the road, which the fast food entrepreneurs will cast aside with sarcasm and........envy.

When my Mother passed away recently, we concluded that she was probably happiest when she served one of her wonderous feasts to her family to share, and to enjoy........together. My Mother was a wonderful cook! She made the finest fried chicken, and her stuffed ribs were amazing! But among her other specialities (which I could describe for pages!), given that she was a little Italian Mom, one did not need to eat spaghetti and meatballs anywhere else on this fine earth, and expect better. It was a recipe of many generations, but cooked with the greatest of love. And even though we had a humble lifestyle, we were spoiled that way growing up, although it is hard to know that..... if you know nothing else.

But is was more than the taste of the food, because no matter the "what", it was the "who" that made the celebrations special. The celebration of the feast. The celebration of time together with those who matter. The celebration of providing energy to oneself, and enjoying every second of it. The celebration of making memories for the ages.

~~~~~~~

I wish you well. I hope you too are enjoying "feasts" with those that matter to you. I hope you listen and laugh and offer your thoughts, ideas and humour.....even the simplest of things, that you want to share......to those who appreciate sharing. And I hope you realize the importance of "slow" food, and dedicated time with others.

Make time.

Taste it..........

How truly Italian of you, Bro! :thumb: :clap:

[JoRo]

Great post man, and good point. Having a dinner with the family is a good time to actually catch up with who you share a roof with.


CP when I get'em back

[kmcgough25]

Speaking of slow...and Italian

My wife has been doing more crock pot meals lately.....just had some awesome chicken cacciatore...fantastic.

Unfortunatley I have been missing quite a few weekday meals because I am getting home too late from work!!.

I heard of another idea to mix in at dinner that I wanted to share with those who have young kids (I haven't found them yet, but I am on the look out).

An aquaintance of mine bout some conversation cards that they bring to the dinner table each night. It asks questions and they all take turns answering.....questions could be, "what was the scariest thing that ever happened to you?" or "what was your proudest moment?"

He said the kids love it and they have learned a ton about their kids that don't come up in routine conversation.

[EddieMac]

Dinner

I remember having to sit and eat meals every night with the family. I look back fondly now, as both of my parents are gone but I hated it then. There was too much playing to do. Mom cooked so well, anything she made was shortening your life but you didn't care while you were eating.

My family and I try to sit together but with my rotating shifts and Jenn (wife to be) working later all the time (changed jobs because of it) it has been hard. I love the family meal now and I find I like to do the cooking and have all of Moms old recipe books on hand.

It really is the best time of day and great thread Can! :thumb:

[CanDB]

My wife has been doing more crock pot meals lately.....just had some awesome chicken cacciatore...fantastic.

Unfortunatley I have been missing quite a few weekday meals because I am getting home too late from work!!.

I heard of another idea to mix in at dinner that I wanted to share with those who have young kids (I haven't found them yet, but I am on the look out).

An aquaintance of mine bout some conversation cards that they bring to the dinner table each night. It asks questions and they all take turns answering.....questions could be, "what was the scariest thing that ever happened to you?" or "what was your proudest moment?"

He said the kids love it and they have learned a ton about their kids that don't come up in routine conversation.

Nice value add Jon!

:thumb:

[CanDB]

I remember having to sit and eat meals every night with the family. I look back fondly now, as both of my parents are gone but I hated it then. There was too much playing to do. Mom cooked so well, anything she made was shortening your life but you didn't care while you were eating.

My family and I try to sit together but with my rotating shifts and Jenn (wife to be) working later all the time (changed jobs because of it) it has been hard. I love the family meal now and I find I like to do the cooking and have all of Moms old recipe books on hand.

It really is the best time of day and great thread Can! :thumb:

Sometime, someday your schedules will work......and then, more than ever maybe, you will honour what your parents were doing back in the day.

I reminisce more than I thought I would, now that my parents are both gone. It's interesting how things come around. We don't always like what we went through, and yet most of it makes sense now.....and in a lot of ways, we'd love to go back to try it one more time, when our folks were quite young......I know they meant well.

(And I sure miss some of my Mother's wondeful meals!)