When people would ask me if I could cook, my answer would be, “I don’t.” I never said I couldn’t – I said that I didn’t. People would say how sorry they felt for my son, and want to feed him every chance they got.
One day, someone came by to drop off something around dinner time when I was a single mom, and they saw my little one, sitting up in his high chair, tearing up some fried fish, greens, rice, corn, and baked beans. He was like, “you said you couldn’t cook!” I told him,” I said I DIDN’T cook… for other people.”
I’ll admit it. I can cook. More often than not, I am able to make something that people really like – too bad I don’t really like to cook for people other than my immediate family.
I really dislike being judged.
Who wants to be the one who brings the dish to the potluck that nobody eats? Not me. Ever. So I tend to bring drinks, napkins, plastic utensils, ice – things that are still essential, but they are what they are. No one is going to decide not to use a plastic fork because I brought it, and if they don’t like the drink that I bring, guess who’s taking it right back with me – I am.
Have I ever had the dish no one touches? No – not yet anyway. I know because I go back and check. That dish better be CLEAN – not a bit of it left.
So here we are at Thanksgiving, and this is the first year I’m bringing actual food – not looking forward to it. I have never had any complaints on the dish I plan to bring – usually it is the first thing to disappear – but who knows. I’ve hosted cookouts at my house and people are pleasantly surprised at how good stuff is, everybody takes a plate home, and there’s very little leftover. This might be the ONE time that it doesn’t go well.
Luckily (and strategically), I made something that my family loves, so if it goes untouched – it’s comin’ home… believe that!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Do you have a signature dish that you make that everyone loves?
UPDATE: Looks like the mac n’ cheese was a hit. I took this picture after the first round of people went through the line… I guess only a couple of people were able to get seconds, and no one got the chance at a to go plate. YES!
