Making Meals

I've been despairing recently about how very dreadful I am at keeping house. I look around my home and think how much it needs some serious attention (on every level), and how I can never seem to muster up enough energy or enthusiasm to tackle any of it. Every single room here is in need of a thorough de-cluttering and a good deep clean, yet I can (and do) think of a thousand ways to avoid getting stuck in. I was thinking yesterday about it all, wondering if I will always feel this way, or whether these feelings belong to this particular stage of motherhood when my busy days often leave me feeling so rushed and tired. However, one of the housey "jobs" that hardly ever gives me that sinking feeling is the preparing and cooking of our evening meal. Even though I am often very weary by this time of day, at 4.30 I do always seem to be able to get myself into the kitchen with my apron on, the radio cranked up and enjoy setting to work.

I love to surround myself with visual pleasures, and usually this involves colour. No surprises there then. I get pleasure every day from setting the table with coloured drinking glasses and pretty paper napkins, a little posy of flowers in the centre.

Over the years I have gathered an array of pretty and colourful spoons, utensils, plates and bowls that are a pleasure to use. I cook every day from scratch with fresh ingredients, and I am very, very grateful that I have the time to do this each day. I just love the thought that I am feeding and nurturing my family to the best of my ability, that I am providing not only good nutrition for the Little Peeps, but helping to develop their appreciation of flavours and home cooked food.

I tried out a new recipe yesterday, a new way of cooking fresh salmon. In the bowl above, there is honey, white wine vinegar, olive oil, garlic and fresh thyme. It smelt really lovely as I whisked it all together.

This dressing/marinade is spooned generously over the salmon fillets which are placed in a baking dish, then covered in tin foil and baked in the oven. Oh yum! They came out moist and tender, with a delicious sweetness that the Little People loved. You can find the recipe here.

I made a bowl of Greek salad to go with it, chopping and throwing everything in a bowl whilst day dreaming of the Greek islands where I once spent an idyllic twelve week summer back packing with J.

I had the back door open and popped out to see what was happening on my little herb bench. Like the rest of the back yard, it's looking a little forlorn and neglected but I'm hoping to find time this Summer to re-do my pots out here.

There was enough fresh sprouting mint for me to pick a few sprigs....

....to toss with a knob of butter and lots of seasoning into a pan of boiled new potatoes.

It was a simple meal in many ways, just salmon, minty potatoes and greek salad, and yet very delicious indeed. I loved all those fresh flavours mingling together on the plate, and I loved that it was a shared family experience, as our evening meals always are.

It was cooked with love, and plenty of day-dreamy feel-good. I might have cluttered shelves and dusty surfaces, but I do make good meals.

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♥...more little snippets from the Attic...♥

Half Way

Artisan Bread

Cosy

Lengthening Days

Moments

Comments

[Joy]

when I first started reading I thought you were going to feed the family the dandelions!! I am so glad you didn't and your meal sounded lovely. Dusty sides and shelves ... so what!! xx lots of love Joy xx

[Karen]

Thank you, Lucy. I do love visiting your blog!

[Penny L]

Just last week I thought I wish Lucy would put some more recipes up , and voila!! Thank you, it will be salmon tonight. I have loved reading all the comments, it's good to know that there are others with proper homes! Life is much too short... Mind you I must go and put some washing on as two of us had to wear my husband's socks today! thank you for all the happiness you share in your blog, it lights up so many of our worlds. Much love Penny L in Dorsetxxxxxx

[Peta-Ann Cowan]

Hi Lucy, this is so good we all went through this stage of life. I used to decide what ai would do each day and the reward was a pot of tea and time to crochet knit or do whatever with a clear conscience and feeling of deserving to do it. When ai had scrummy projects on the go it was amazing how quick house jobs could be put out of the way........... We now are living most of the year in Bolivia in a house with next to nothing in the way of furniture ornaments etc. ie no clutter. Oh the bliss of having so much time to do handwork........
Enjoy the family and all the scrummy meals. Our boys have taken that sit down to eat good food everyday into their own homes and lives. Love your blog, I have just made the chunky bag for my daughter in law.
Love
Peta-Ann

[Jules Francis]

Thanks Lucy for the new recipe. Will definitely giv it a go. Your noddle recipe has become one of my favourites, so tasty and have even cooked it for friends and family who all seemed to have enjoyed it. I just use mango chutney instead of the peanut butter as had run out of it and just as yummy! I shouldn't worry too much about a bit of dust and clutter. Think we all have our fair share of that?! Your home seem filled with love and family and the important things in life. There will be plenty of time one day to do the dusting and other jobs. Well that's what I tell myself! Thanks for finding time to write your colourful blog and share it with us all.
Jules x

[Annie]

Oh I love the look of that greek salad!! Almost more feta cheese than vegetables...yum! Sadly, if I'd do that kind of salad here in Sweden I'd be ruined- feta cheese is sooo expensive here!

[Alison]

I work and so this is lack of time and energy is multiplied . Unfortunately I don't mind a bit of de-cluttering but I don't particularly enjoy cooking. So our meals in the week are hit and miss - simple stuff like Chilli or Shepherds pie or a salad. We all sit down properly on a Thursday when my Mum comes over and Friday is take away night.
Luckily I have a husband who does enjoy cooking and he cooks on a weekend. I keep the house tidy and our daughter is roped in to dust and hoover once a week - in return for her having a good mobile phone paid for!

[Heather]

My dear, you are not alone! I just cannot seem to keep a clean and tidy home and garden; I do try but it's like painting the Forth Bridge! I don't know how people manage it. Planning and making supper though is one of my favourite parts of each day. So, whilst there may not be a clean pair of pants in the house, there is always a nutritious home cooked meal. Frankly, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Many moons ago I used to make plaques and fridge magnets - the most popular was 'only dull women have immaculate homes'. ;-)

Hxx

[susan hall]

ah lucy, when you are as old as i am you won't be sat in your chair looking round and wishing you'd done more housework ! you will be glad that you did it your way and made it all as much fun as you possibly can have.
keep up the good work x

[vanessa arran]

Hi Lucy
I feel exactly the same as you about house cleaning - when you've young kids its like shoveling snow when its still snowing! I would so much rather spend my time being creative whether its with food or crafts. I too cook everything from scratch - home made soups and fresh bread and always home baking. How much more worthwhile that is - nourishing and feeding your loved ones with health giving fresh food. The dust and dirt sometimes gets me down but then I remind myself of my theory - I am sure that those with spotless houses open the freezer at dinner time and pop some chicken nuggets in the oven!!!

[Kirsten]

Me too Lucy! Doing house chores is just not my cup of tea. I try to keep it clean enough to live in, vacuum regularly but there is a lot of dust (comes with an old appartment, black furniture and 3 cats). only when I'm really bothered by it I try to do a sort of deep cleaning (but the place is about 40m2 so that's not a dayjob thankfully). Overall I just like a sort-of tidy house, with no laundry peeping up everywhere and most things stored away where they belong, but a house also needs to be lived in and dust, dirt and clutter comes with the package. And worst case scenario, you just cover it up with a crochet blanket!

xx

[Anne]

I totally know how you feel about the household work... I feel the same a lot of time. Sighs.

The pictures of your meals are mouthwatering though! Yum!

Take care,
Anne
http://crochetbetweentwoworlds.blogspot.de

[Mitsa Xida]

a mother do for all!'m glad you liked the GREEK SALAD! hope to come at some point we can come to GREECE and to see you!Good month!

[natalia]

yummy!!!!!! looks delicious!!!!!!

[Fuego Azul]

You're one awesome mama, Lucy! You have all of your priorities in the right place. :)
But if that clutter & dust is getting to you that much (& boy can I relate!), you'd be surprised at how 5 mins while waiting for coffee to brew, or 7 mins while waiting for the water to boil can really lend you to de-clutter a spot. I also remind myself that it's good to change the pace of work your hands do so they don't get injured from too much of one movement. Hope this helps you!

[caroline mitchel]

Lucy,This is the story of my life, a few years back. You are doing a fantastic job, I can tell from your lovely blog. I'm in California but I wish you were my friend. Keep up all your hard work and love for your family

[Carolyn]

At this stage of your life, I think your energies are better spent elsewhere than on keeping a spic and span house. Being a full time mum (albeit of older children) I feel your pain when you look around and see so much that needs to be done. On the other hand, when I do get stuck in and do the whole house (which will take me a week) I actually feel energised because I don't have it hanging over my head. Trouble is it will all be there to do again in another couple of weeks! That's where craft can be a therapy- what gets done, stays done. As with most things, its a matter of balance I suppose. Glad you enjoy cooking so much. Again, its something that has to keep being repeated but I agree, it's much more enjoyable than the other :)

[Lisa G.]

Your mint reminds me of a new recipe I tried at Easter: cut carrots into small pieces (half-inch slices, then halved into half-moons) and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast till slightly browned, caramelized (and cooked!) Put in a bowl and toss with mint and honey. It was refreshing.

[Katie]

A very summery meal! Food is the most important thing - you are what you eat. Rather to feed your kids a meal made from whole ingredients than to have a dust free home and make them eat fast food for dinner.

[cybercita]

Ugh, I HATE cleaning house! Can you get someone to help you do a deep clean now and then? Every once in a while I pay someone to clean my kitchen and bathroom, vacuum under the bed and behind the furniture, and dust the shelves. Bliss!

[Kim]

I just wanted to stop by and tell you how much I am enjoying your blog! I was lead here via searching for crochet patterns and have been busily working your Hexagon pattern! I'm a brand new hooker (hee hee) and your pattern was wonderful for teaching me how to craft the hexagons! So Hello from the state of Washington in the US! :-)

[linda welcome]

You MUST be kidding me! I have rarely met a person with as much Motherly talent as you present to all of us. Your children are happy little artists. Your littlest has so many wonderful walks and adventures. Your entire family is surrounded with beautiful designs and colors. They have piles of wonderfully soft blankies and pillows. You have also continually showed your family how little it takes to be happy: a dotted pitcher, pretty napkins, a wild flower, a walk in the woods, a little camper. You are also an amazing juggler - your Mothering, your Shop, your personal hooking, and your blogging to bring joy to so many of us. Most women would be exhausted doing half as much as you do. You are AMAZING!

[Anne Marie]

New potatoes, mint and butter! Perfect. Your salmon looks lovely but I am a fish hater, so would love everything bar the fish!

I so relate to the comments by Anne and Lyn etc about dust and untidiness not mattering. After all, who made these rules of housework and what should be? People who lived in large houses with a number of servants!

You have your priorities right! Your family, your crochet and your cooking. The rest doesn't matter. I am similar to the other Anne, having achieved 70 in January. My house isn't as tidy as my neighbours but they do not - cycle, craft, garden, go on the internet and follow Attic24 blog, and read. All these things make one a more rounded person than having a house looking like DFS showroom! I can't wait for Yarndale this year and meeting you and Heather again. xx Maybe even before, if I manage to get over for one of the studio days.

[Jenny]

Dear Lucy, here are some words my mother said that will be with me until the day I die. "Don't worry about the mess, it's not dirty. It will be there ready for you to clean up when you have the time. There is no 'cleaning fairy' so just remember that it will be there for you when you are ready to do it". How true these words ring! You will find one day, just like I did, not to sweat this stuff. One day or one week it will just happen 'like magic' when you least expect it, you will suddenly have the energy and inclination to get the job done. Simply because YOU are that 'fairy'. Now that's a nice thought to hold. I love fairies and I'm glad I'm one of them! Doesn't that make you feel better about your (when you look at the big picture) little mess, that probably only you can see. With love from your fairy friend from the 'Land Down Under' Jenny xxx

[Sarah]

When children grow up, they won't remember how clean the house was, but how well cooked the food was and how much fun they had playing games and taking walks.
Children grow up when you are not looking, so dusting those shelves can wait.