We've had several major attacks of life, over the last few years, between illness and family obligations, and the blog just fell by the wayside.
Cooking, however, did not. If anything, I am more convinced than ever of the value of the Inhabited Kitchen. With everything going on, it was vital that we could count on a good meal - nourishing, revitalizing (and affordable...)
We spent time with The Parents, helping them prepare their house for sale, and then move. Within a short time, I was cooking, so that everyone else could concentrate on the work they were doing, and then sit down to a delicious, relaxing meal. (And, eventually, I emptied the pantry.)
And I have been dealing with chronic illness. Debilitating, rather than dangerous... but, even so, most days we've eaten home cooked food. Often I was able to cook. Other times, we ate premade meals from the freezer, or Himself could put something together from the assortment of prepared ingredients I now keep on hand. It meant a lot to me that I still could make that contribution - and, also, that I could still control what I ate. No wondering about an ingredient, no concern that my food was not the best for my poor body, but confidence that I was still providing us both with the best nourishment possible.
So, more and more, I want to be sure others have the same options. I find that people are often intimidated by cooking, afraid that one needs a full range of equipment, or massive amounts of time to cook. There is so much Cooking Mystique - and it feels easier to just go out, or pop something from a package into the microwave. But I started cooking for myself in a college dorm... with one saucepan, one frying pan, and one oven safe soup pot. This can be done.
And few other activities are so rewarding.