Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Thank you, Alton Brown


I owe a huge thank you to Alton Brown -- you know, the half-chef, half-food scientist, all fun sort of guy on Good Eats? Well, thanks to him, I was able to cook a ribeye for The Big 2-0 for The Husband and me.

Yeah, we could have gone out to a fancy restaurant and had someone else do all the cooking. But then we would have added:

1) The stress of getting the reservations (for me and The Husband, it's a battle of wills. He doesn't want to do it, and I don't want to do it, so it usually doesn't get done.)

2) The stress of getting to the restaurant on time (I'm always late coming home from the dayjob. He's always the last one to the car. 'Nuff said.)

3) The stress of spending waaaay too much money.

4) The stress of getting back home at a semi-decent hour.

With all that possibility of stress, I decided that what I really wanted was a low-key anniversary. I wanted us to cook together. So Saturday I brought home a couple of six buck ribeye steaks, some red potatoes and some frozen brussels sprouts. (The Husband asked the potato soup and the sprouts.)

The Kiddo had supper with some friends, and The Husband and I talked more that evening than we probably had in the past six months. Having three jobs between us (his job, my dayjob and my writing), plus being parents, isn't a recipe for conversation.

Granted, I did most of the cooking, but The Husband stayed in the kitchen with me for most of the prep, and even washed a few dishes for me. The steak turned out perfectly, and for once, I got everything on the table at about the same time. For a bad cook, I didn't do a half-bad job -- salad, steak, potato soup, brussels sprouts, and rolls. I was going to do dessert, but didn't have time, and besides, we were stuffed with what we had.

We took a long walk, and talked some more. We talked about inconsequential things. But we talked. And that, after 20 years, is a mighty big deal.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Ahh, I love Alton Brown. I like to say that everything I know about food and its history, I learned from watching him moderate Iron Chef and hosting Good Eats. Bonus for you: He lives in Marieta!

Patty Blount said...

That's great and is making me wistful for November, when we hit the big 25.

I'm not a bad cook (not exactly great, either) but steak confounded me until I bought an instant thermometer. Presto! No more shoe leather for dinner.

Congrats and glad you had a good time.

Lickety Splitter said...

I think talking is a big deal. Year 1 to Year 99. Yeah, knowing your partner so well that you can often read his or her thoughts is a testament to the duration and intimacy of the marriage. However, being able to have conversation and "get real" talks should be the true test.

Sara Best said...

Sounds lovely Cynthia. I'm glad you had such a nice evening and congrats on such a milestone.

Linda G. said...

Sounds just like how TG & I like to celebrate our anniversary. We got married Jan. 3, so we're always pretty much partied out after the holidays, and ready for some quiet time together.

Of course, he cooks, mainly because we want to eat something good. ;)

Anonymous said...

When did talking become so swoon worthy? You make it so. I need to go talk to my husband now. *runs away*

Cynthia Reese said...

Karla, isn't Alton the coolest? I like the way he makes me understand HOW & why a recipe works. Wish I could meet him one day!

Patty, same here -- are we twins separated at birth? And I dare you to try AB's steak solution!

Lickety Splitter, you've got that right! It felt strange, like I was getting to know a stranger all over again.

Thanks, Sara!

Linda G, I'll just say it out loud -- I'm plum pea green with envy over TG -- well, I'm sure he has bad points, but still ... can we take his good points and The Husband's good points and Tawna's Pythagoras' good points and make one man we can all sorta share? Or just clone him and then we'll all have our very own version? ;-)

Posey, it IS swoon worthy ... I've decided I really like having a man in the kitchen, even if he doesn't do the cooking. ;-)

out of the wordwork said...

Congrats on the big 2-0, Cynthia! We hit it on October 20th and I may take a page from you and just celebrate it quietly at home. 'course we'll be living in a shoe box by then and the dinner will likely have to be eaten on our laps but still it's a new kitchen to cook in!
Nelsa

Kelly Breakey said...

As you know I am already blown away by the idea of spending 20 years with the hubs. Time seems to just be flying by and I am afraid that we don't always take the time we need to in order to stop and smell the roses.

Congrats on your anniversary and thanks for the reminder that quality time is always tops over the quantity.

Mary said...

Sounds like a perfect night!