Zen and the art of slow cookers

You know, sometimes it takes so little to make us happy. A little food, a couple of friends and lots of laughs.

For example, this was my bright idea one day. I had two friends over, one who cooks and one who watches us cook. We pounded out chicken breasts, stuffed them with feta cheese, basil, and asparagus and put them on the BBQ. They were delicious. The only thing we didn't do was grease the grill - turns out skinless chicken sticks a bit.

But I remember the giggles and the laughter as we leaned how to tie the chicken (well, I learned, Carol seemed to be a natural). These lovely little days stick in our heads. And somehow, when we're distracted by cooking, conversation because freer and laughter more easy. Or maybe that was the vodka coolers!



So in that vein, I got a slow cooker for Christmas last year. It took me a long time to use it. I was afraid that if I left it on while I was away, somehow the house would burn down or something. So I used it on a bunch of Sundays and convinced myself it was safe and now I am in love with my slow cooker. Oh - the best BBQ ribs ever, pulled pork, roast beef stews, curry split pea and ham soup, ham and cabbage and apple and pineapple bake...it's amazing. And I just got a new cookbook - so I think the next one is a cauliflower and chick pea curry soup. The best thing is (being a single person) coming home to a hot meal. Plus how great the house smells. Even the cat starts howling for supper if I have a roast or something like that cooking.


So what's the moral of this story? Well, in the short term it's about cooking new dishes and the endless search to try and eat healthier. In the broader spectrum, it's about conquering a fear. (although cooking with friends like this might instill fear in anyone!) Sure, leaving the slow cooker on while I'm out is not a huge, life altering fear. But it's a little one and I didn't let it rule me, I beat it.

It's also about constantly learning new things, and surrounding yourself with friends. But those are stories for another day.

For today, conquer your fears. Write, don't just talk about it. Send your writing out somewhere. Try a new genre, a new style, anything new and send it out into the world.

And celebrate the little things, like being brave enough to turn to the slow cooker on when you're out!