My Other Half

Life can be hectic. Life can be busy. Even when taking a moment to try a new recipe, one might get a little stressed. Everyone needs some time to pause and reflect. This post is not a new recipe, neither is it a culinary adventure outside the kitchen. It is a homage to the best cooking partner one could ever ask for: My other half. As I was making my dinner tonight, I thought of him, and what it means to share a kitchen.

I am not sure if he knows this, but one of the things that he always does in the kitchen drives me bonkers. As much as I hate it, that's how much I cannot help but love it. It is his spirit, his character. When I cook, I try to keep things neat(ish), and (try to) clean as I go. My other half resembles the Tazmanian Devil from Looney Tunes. Every single pot is out. Every single tool is out. The sink is filled to the brim in vegetable scraps. "How can one possibly do this?", I ask myself. But that is the joy of cooking with someone else. You find out other ways of doing things that you, yourself, have a habit of doing. You learn your quirks, as well as someone else's, and gain education from both instances.

Both of us have a "list" of edible "no-no's", foods that have unappealing textures or flavors. These are preferences, of course. He enjoys all of my "no's" and visa-versa. The point is, he is always looking for creative alternatives. He is the king of substituting something for another, for example, switching dates for raisins. Brilliant.

I am vegetarian, and have absolutely no problem when my other half craves meat. We love to cook for and with each other, which leaves cooking meat very rare (Pun intended). When a recipe calls for meat, I usually just cancel it out, no problem. Not my other half. He is in the cashier's queue at the grocery with a soy alternative before I even blink. He always wants to try something new.

Cooking is fun. And if there is any point to this post, what I am trying to say is enjoy cooking with someone else. You can laugh at the differences. You can enjoy similarities. You can create memories that would not have happened unless you had "that time" in the kitchen.

To my other half, my partner-in-crime, you are an inspiration. You are a joy to cook for. You are a joy to cook with. When thinking about some of our hilarious moments in the kitchen, I cannot help but snort, and laugh. I remember chopping vegetables for Thanksgiving on my stove because two people could not fit in my kitchen. I remember not being able to go to bed because Christmas Cookies were cooling there. I remember falling asleep on the kitchen counter because I thought I could "whip up" Torta de Tagliatelle after work. Thank you for these adventures. And thank you for being you. I do not think I could have asked for a freer spirit, a bigger helping hand, or a more enjoyable person with whom to share these adventures.