The other night was a typical example of his attitude toward cooking. We'd both been busy with various chores during the day, but I know from my vast experience with meal prep that there comes a point where you have to stop whatever else you're doing and cook. That is if you want to eat dinner before midnight.
We had told the kids that we would be eating at 6pm sharp. Threats were even made to eat without them if they didn't get themselves home on time.
Early in the afternoon, D-boy helped me to bake shortcakes and slice strawberries for dessert. Around 4:30pm, I enlisted M-girl to help shuck the corn. When we were done, I dropped a gentle hint to BadDad.
"Honey," I asked, "What time are you going to start the chicken?"
"I've got time," he replied, "It will be ready before the corn and potatoes." I nodded doubtfully.
He went out to hack at some bushes in the front yard. I put the corn in a giant pot of water and turned on the stove. I moved on to peeling a mountain of potatoes, and getting them ready to roast. I popped them into the oven at 5:25. By this time BadDad was sitting on the couch in the family room, flipping channels on the TV every few minutes. I caught part of a horror flick, a documentary on education, and a game all in the space of 10 minutes.
I decided to try again.
"OK, I just put the potatoes and corn on!" I called down to him. No response.
"I think the chicken is bone in. Won't that take longer?"
"It's not going to take long," he assured me. I wasn't convinced.
I set the table, started some peas, and finally decided to go outside and play with D-boy and M-girl. They were hungry and needed distracting.
"The sides will all be ready by six." I told him on my way out the door.
Around quarter of, K-boy came out into the backyard.
"Dad wants to know where the chicken is." he told me.
Calmly, I informed him that it was in the downstairs fridge, where it had been marinating for hours. At least I noticed that my hubby was now stationed by the grill. I gave him time to get the chicken started and then drifted over to the patio to keep him company.
At about 6:15 he informed me that the chicken was going to take longer than he had thought. Shocker! I pacified the kids with slices of bread and butter.
When we finally sat down to dinner, I gave a sigh of satisfaction. When my hubby asked me why I was sighing, I replied, "It's just so nice when I don't have to worry about the cooking around here."
He nodded in agreement.
Linking to: Yeah Write Finding the Funny
Argh! I can't believe he even nodded in agreement. He probably felt all virtuous….
ReplyDeleteI was just glad we were finally eating! In his defense, I do so much of the cooking (I enjoy it) that he really has no concept of how long things take to cook.
DeleteAwesome! We totally have the same "timing" issues when it comes to grilling season--my secret ploy is to find more recipes for sides done on the grill ;)
ReplyDeleteI should do that! Then I could get him into grilling mode a bit earlier in the evening!
DeleteLOL!!! Hilarious!
ReplyDeleteMy hubby cooks on Sunday...all three meals. I take care of the rest of the week. He even gives me a shopping list by Wednesday so that I can make sure he has what he needs. It helps that he loves to cook (and I won't let him cook on week nights that he has been working and Saturday is our Shabbat...no cooking or working).
That's a good way of doing it. I think the key difference is that my husband doesn't really love to cook, he just enjoys grilling.
DeleteLol! Love this post! And yes- my husband grills too-- which means I do everything else. But at our house- he is usually so ready to eat so he goes and starts grilling and then I finally get around to making the sides and so the meat is always done first :)
ReplyDeleteThat's been known to happen around here too! I might have to start changing the clocks when it's his turn to cook, just to get things all ready at the same time!
DeleteI'm just popping in from the challenge grid this week! I just had to tell you that I think you are so wonderfully easy going! :-)
ReplyDeleteI remember the first time that my sweet husband tried to do the grilling himself. It started out much like your evening, except that I started the grill (and food) myself when I thought the time was right and it appeared he wasn't going to.
The meat was half done by the time he decided that he should start it, and now he knows that I am just as picky about being on time with food as I am with appointments. Haha.
Thanks for sharing your story!
I've learned that it's better to pick my battles. Now if he makes me late for an appointment, he'd better watch out!
DeleteFunny!
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that my husband has the cooking and timing under better control than I do...
Your blog is awesome, love the post (and pics) of the strawberry short cake!
Thanks, Kerstin! I'm really OK with my husband not being much of a cook (I knew that before I married him). I enjoy cooking, and he's better than I am at so many other things.
DeleteThat's something I would do--my husband is an awesome cook with great timing. Good thing, or we'd all starve! ...or at least live on bread and butter:)
ReplyDeleteAs long as at least one spouse can cook (and enjoys it) you're good to go!
DeleteHa! Ha! This is why I do most of the cooking at our house. When my husband begins cooking he suddenly forgets where everything in the kitchen is located and asks so many questions I just end up taking over!
ReplyDeleteMy kids do the same thing! It must be selective memory loss!
DeleteI've totally been there. At least you were nice enough to let him feel lite he was really helping.
ReplyDeleteThe chicken was good when it was finally done!
Delete