If you know me and my partner, you know that we're really not super lovey dovey. But regardless, it hit me last weekend that I HAD to blog about this. It's been close to a decade that my partner and I have been together, and through the years (through early college years, early adult years and now full on adulthood), my partner has been refining his kitchen skills - skills that have been there all along, that just happened to lay a bit dormant during the pizza & beer years of our early twenties).
So...here they are - the top ten food reasons why I love him. (or more aptly titled "The Top Ten Dishes I Get Super Duper Excited About):
#10: MASHED POTATOES:
Many years ago my partner first made his mashed potatoes for me. Sitting around my little table in the middle of my MINUSCULE studio apartment on Hippie Hill in Boone, NC, I ate my serving and then went for more because they were just THAT good. Then he told me what was in them...trust me when I say they are not a healthy side dish, but they are so indulgently good. Can't wait for thanksgiving!!!!
I CAN'T BELIEVE I DON'T HAVE A PICTURE OF THEM. MUST BE BECAUSE I GOBBLE THEM UP SO QUICKLY...
#9: PASTA
See, the funny thing about pasta is that I have a love-hate relationship with it. Unless I'm cooking a casserole of some sort (mac 'n cheese, chili-mac, cincinnati chili...you get the idea), you'll rarely find me making pasta. I might make a red sauce here and there on the weekend to have for the week, but I'm just not a fan of it. My partner can whip up a delicious red sauce just by opening the pantry & fridge and using a few key ingredients. And he does, a few times a week! Wednesday or Thursday night, when the fridge starts to look bare, you can usually find us eating some sort of pasta dish. He's a fantastic pasta sauce maker. Don't even get me started on his lasagna...
#8: ALL THINGS GRILL-RELATED:
Okay, maybe this is on here because it's still summer and summer is grilling season...but grilling is something I've refused to know how to do. Kind of like a seperation or division of tasks around the house - I make a great soup, my partner grills great things. Beer can chicken, hamburgers, beef, fish, pork, veggies...you name it. It's always good.
#7: BRUSSEL SPROUTS:
I know, I know, they get a bad rap but ultimately as one gets older you realize it's okay to like your brussel sprouts. I promise if you tasted these, you would want them every day.
(*note the mashed potatoes...those are mine, not his, and not nearly as good)
#6: GREENS!
Greens are easily the most favorite side dish in our household and my partner makes great greens - always the right amount of salt and vinegar.
#5: PICKLIN':
Picklin' what? ANYTHING! I love that this is a pass-time we enjoy together. There's nothing like spending the whole day in a hot & steamy kitchen, chatting, joking, laughing, perhaps a bit of arguing and picklin' this and that (cucumbers, green beans, cauliflower, beets, onions,...). Oh and what's on the docket for this weekend? Canning. Expect a future blog entry about this for sure.
#4: TACO SEASONING:
What man do you know makes his own taco seasoning? Perhaps it's because taco night is potentially his most favorite night where food is concerned, but through the years, my partner has come to nail the taco seasoning. Thumbs up for taco night. You should definitely come over for taco night sometime.
My partner can whip up a pizza sauce in about 5 minutes that is better than any store bought or take-out or delivery pizza sauce i've ever had. No joke.
#2: GRILLED CORN ON THE COB:
This is the masterpiece that led me to write this blog entry. Last weekend he made this on the grill, with a touch of cilantro/olive oil/lemon. Yes, I am that lucky.
And last, but certainly not least...
#1: HAMBURGERS:
oh. dear. god. That's all I can say - you have to try one to believe it. They're that good. Plain & simple, seasoned with salt & pepper = so tasty & super juicy. Hands down, my favorite thing. And the number one (food) reason why I love him.
