I love to cook.
It’s another way to feed my creative side. (pun fully intended)
I have made a point of sharing my passion for cooking with my children, Gina and Ian. We are all obsessed with the Food Channel, and go into a blue funk if we miss an episode of America’s Test Kitchen.
When I create an especially tasty dish, perfected every step, and have the timing down to a science, I usually name it. Once again my creative writing seeps into my everyday life.
The one breakfast dish I love to make is called “The Bird’s Nest”. The procedure is a closely guarded secret that, even my kids don’t know, although they have seen me make it so often I am sure they have the steps down.
“The Bird’s Nest” contains shredded hash browns, ham, bacon, green onions (not scallions, I am not that pompous) and two poached eggs. When it is complete, it resembles a bird’s nest.
One morning, I had just finished creating “The Bird’s Nest” and was just about to dig in when my son said, “Is that the Bird’s Nest?”
“Yes it is.” I responded.
“Why do you call it The Bird’s Nest”?”, my 6 year old man cub asked.
“Isn’t it obvious” I replied. “The shredded hash browns look like twigs from a nest and the two eggs are from a bird.”
“What about the ham and bacon, and green onions?” he said. “You don’t find those in a bird’s nest.”
He had me there. I was stuck for an answer, so I resorted to my extensive parent’s manual and said, “It doesn’t matter, eat your oatmeal.” Damn I hate it when my 6 year old is right.
Then he had the stones to continue, “If it was me, I would call it The Barn. The hash browns look like hay, the bacon and ham are from a pig that lives around a barn, and the eggs are found in a barn.”
Wow, he really thought this out. Then, my old experienced brain showed itself.
“What about the green onions?” I had him…superior intellect and knowledge prevails!
“Oh”, he said. “That is the grass you find around the barn.”
We’re making breakfast tomorrow morning together. I am going to show my son exactly how to make, “The Barn”.
– DP