Every couple has a story of what brought them together. An introduction, an event or a shared passion. But what keeps two people together…well…for us, there’s always room for two in the kitchen.
I’ve always been a food lover. As a kid I was more apt to pull a block of cheddar cheese and a bottle of mustard out of the refrigerator to top on Triscuits for my after school treat than go hungry until dinner. I entered cooking contests in 4-H, happily took cooking classes in junior high and was known for my sandwich making prowess by my pals in high school. While my college roommates were eating nachos from 7-11 for dinner I was steaming broccoli for Chicken Divan, of which they happily shared in the spoils.
As a waitress through high school and college and then again after graduation and in between figuring out what my “big career” would look like, I learned even more about how to cook from watching real chefs work their magic. How to make drawn butter, what in the heck mise en place meant and how to explain the not so subtle differences between Dover sole and Scottish salmon.
But more importantly, the restaurant is where I met my husband.
From the beginning of our relationship as waiter and waitress bumping into one another in the restaurant kitchen, we shared a love of creating and enjoying good food. I say good food, not necessarily fancy food because while we were surrounded at work by Belvedere martinis and king crab legs with beef tenderloin, our finances leaned more toward sharing our favorite clam dip with potato chips and a six pack of beer while watching Monday football.
We cooked together for the love of it.
While other couples might go to the movies on a date, we would head to the grocery store or restaurant supply to wander the aisles. He would poke and fondle the various cuts of packaged meats chatting up their marbling and aging processes. I lingered longingly over the package design of vinegars and oils and happily splurged on that $7.00 package of specialty pasta.
Hand in hand we’d stroll the aisles as if we were in Paris on the Champs-Elysées instead of Surfas, Trader Joe’s or Ralph’s.
It didn’t matter if it was a weekend or weeknight, it was never a question of, “What are YOU going to make tonight,” but rather, “What are WE cooking tonight?”
The event of cooking has always brought us together.
Weekend mornings is when we’d create our master plans, watching Food Network to more often than not fix whatever Tyler Florence was cooking on that morning’s episode. We’d shop at the farmer’s market, find delicious freshness to bring home then invite friends or neighbors over to share a bottle of wine and the homecooked love that came from our kitchen. Music played, wine flowed and lots of talking and laughing.
We’ve always been a team in the kitchen.
While he is generally in charge of the grilling and and hazes me about cleaning up as I go, he’s equally as dedicated to spending an entire day creating an authentic Pho while I dream of one day becoming a master baker and am happiest when seasoning my homemade salad dressing with fresh herbs snipped from the garden.
The kitchen and the event of cooking has always been our comfort zone.
And then, our daughter was born. And everything changed.
After being married for over a decade and living footloose and fancy free, our lives became centered around shuffling chores in between nap times and moving our eating habits around feeding times.
Suddenly our daily shopping dates to the grocery store were few and far between. Instead they became solo adventures while the other manned the mother ship at home because wandering the grocery store aisles meant packing enough baby supplies as if we were heading for a weekend getaway not to mention a grocery cart wipe down that would make Monk proud.
And so, the “event” that surrounded our love of cooking took a back seat.
But just as life does, just as fast as all of that change happened, right before our very eyes it made its way back around once again.
Strollers were replaced with roller skates and baby food made way for the request for spaghetti tacos. And where grocery store voyages used to be an adventure for two, they’ve now become a family affair.
Our nightly cooking adventures are even better and more creative now that there are three cravings to satisfy rather than two. Sometimes that means dinner for breakfast, less spice in the spicy sauce and an additional 15 minutes it takes for one 9 year old to dice mushrooms as we practice spelling words to the latest song from One Direction instead of The Drive By Truckers.
But it’s all part of the creativity that comes along with cooking and sharing our foodie ways with our junior sous chef, whether she realizes it or not.
Because as a couple we were a great team in the kitchen. But as a family feeding our passion, we have a recipe that can’t be beat.
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Chris J
Lovely story. I’m the cook in this retired empty nest and my wife is my usual one-person dinner guest. Except she is Gordon Ramsay in Hell’s Kitchen (a slight exaggeration) when my cooking takes a turn south…in her opinion. To her credit, she is always honest with me, and when she loves it, she loves it. When she doesn’t, she tells me, and half the time I’m confused by her reaction since I disagree half the time. WIsh I had your camaraderie…
Shanna @ pineapple and coconut
I don’t think I could love this post more, Heidi! Love the pics and the way you write. When my husband and I were first dating we would go to the store together almost every day to pick out dinner and cook together at home. We still love the rare nights when we get to cook together, because, yes, after kids that hasn’t happened as often. So when we do get to cook together we always reminisce back to our dating years and when our kitchen sounds were only those of foods cooking, not kids screaming “I’M HUNGRY!!! When is dinner!!” ahh can’t wait until they are old enough to do dishes…
wendy@chezchloe
Very sweet indeed. And I love that the kids were in on the photos and inspired to blog!
Liren
One of my favorite posts you’ve ever written, Heidi. I loved the pictures of your beautiful trio in your absolutely gorgeous kitchen! It’s so nice to have good partners in the kitchen!
Tieghan Gerard
This was such a breath of fresh air to read. I loved it!! You are such an inspiration and I hope too can have this someday. Your family is amazing!
Love the photos!
heidi
Thanks everyone for such kind and heartfelt comments about my little trio of a family :)
Erin
So fun to see pictures of you all cooking together! Loved this post! Some of my kids like to help out in the kitchen while others I have to beg and plead. For the hesitant ones, we have made a tradition out of making certain foods that they look forward to helping me make. My son, Alex, always looks forward to making a big, decadent cake that looks like a flag for the Fourth of July. It makes my biggest helper a little jealous that her brother gets his very own cooking project so he usually concedes and lets her put the blueberries on the cake.
Alice // Hip Foodie Mom
Heidi, I love this post!!! what better reason to be in the kitchen . . love that food and cooking brings people and families together!
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes
So fun seeing you with your sweet family. But I couldn’t help wondering who took the pictures?
heidi
Smudge traded in her modeling habits for the shots of me and Jeff and we had her 9 year old friend take the group shot of us. They loooove being part of the bloggity process almost as much as eating the food :)
Amy
I loved that story!! Blessings to you and your beautiful family. Thanks for sharing.
Robyn | Add a Pinch
I adore you and your family, Heidi! Such a perfect post! xo
Meg @ Beard and Bonnet
Awwwww this totally melted my heart! Thank you so much for sharing:)
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
I just love this!
sheila
sigh….Heidi, I loved this. Your family is beautiful. Nothing says love like everyone working together in the kitchen!! Mwah! Sheila
Emily
I love everything about this story.
Donna
LOVE stories about your sweet family! MORE please!
Liz
I loved your email and story. Thank you and have a Happy Tuesday.
Katrina @ WVS
This post was so fun to read! I love reading “coming together” stories, and you and your husband have a golden one. The couple that cooks together stays together and you guys are proof!
Auntiepatch
Beautiful, just beautiful –
Rachel Cooks
I adore this post. Your writing is just beautiful and your love for your husband shines through so clearly. And being knee-deep in the diapers and grocery-cart wipe stage, it *maybe* even made me a little emotional.
natalie @ wee eats
what a beautifu story, beautiful life and beautiful family <3
natalie @ wee eats
beautiful* -_-
Betty Ann @Mango_Queen
What a sweet story! I’m a firm believer of the family that cooks and eats together, stays together. Here’s to many more for you and your dear ones. Thanks for sharing, Heidi!
Kathy @ Olives & Garlic
Hi Heidi. I love your blog. This is a beautiful post and I completely relate to it. Great to see pictures of your family doing what you love best.
Gerry @ Foodness Gracious
Such an awesome post, almost teared up (wipes eye) ;)
Congrats to both of you!
Meagan @ A Zesty Bite
I found my love for cooking from my mother and grandmother. I also did the 4-H cooking shows since I could remember and even went to State competition. I love how you get your daughter and husband to cook with you and I can’t wait for my little one to do the same.
Heather
This is such a great post! Thank you for sharing it!!
Stephanie
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful and inspiring story!
Kristen
Did your daughter take the pictures of you with Jeff in them? If so, it is so obvious the apple doesn’t fall from the tree. What talent the three of you have!!
Love this post :)
heidi
She did :) and then we recruited her 9 year old friend into taking our group shot. They’re plotting designs on their own food blog. Thanks Kristen!
Karen
beautiful post Heidi! sounds very much like our house too.
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan
This is SO sweet, I love it Heidi!
Martha@A Family Feast
So well-written and a really lovely story! I can relate to so much of it as food and cooking is what brought (and keeps) my husband and I together! We’re looking forward to the day when our (very picky-eater) daughter joins us in the kitchen too! Thanks for sharing!
Yvette (Muy Bueno)
It’s so great to see and read about you and your family! You always highlight others and its great to learn more about YOU! You have a beautiful family and home.
holly waterfall
What a wonderful story to read. I love this love story. I love how it has evolved into something so much more than how it started. Thank you for sharing, Heidi!
Ashley - Baker by Nature
Is it weird I teared up a little reading this? Probably… But such a sweet story! You have a such a beautiful spirit and family and I always enjoy what you share. XO!
Patti
So happy to be a witness and sometimes a participant in this joy. Have a very Happy Special day and remember you are loved for so many, many reasons. Here’s to cooking, love and family.
What a fun post.
Holly
Love your story and love all three of you (and
The pooches). I am grateful that I have been the
Recipient of your food passion! Xoxo
jeffrey c
I love you Babe! I’m cooking up a little something special for tonight. (just sayin’)
Deborah
I loved this, and I just love your family!!
Lisa
Beautiful story, beautiful family!
Christine @ Cooking with Cakes
what a lovely post Heidi!! thanks for sharing such a beautiful story :)
Robyn @ simply fresh dinners
A beautiful and heartwarming story, Heidi! It’s so lovely that you both have passed on your passion for cooking to your daughter and that she joins in on the creativity.
I have always said my favourite day is going to the grocery store on a Saturday morning, picking fresh flowers from my garden for the table, preparing a fabulous meal with the man and sharing it with friends and neighbours. There is nothing more satisfying! As you said, good wine, good conversation and lots of laughs is the perfect end to a perfect day. Isn’t it great to get so much joy from the simple things in life? Love this! Thanks!
Joanna
OMG, you are living in my dream world!:)
I also love to cook and my husband is a foodie but we have such a different cooking styles and food preferences and adding a child to it creates a additional challenges. So I believe in reincarnation so next time around I will have a husband that chows on veggies and loves to do dishes:)
Great post and I love the pictures !!!
Mia Dumont
Very beautiful and touching. You should consider a TV show with the three of you cooking. I am sure it could interest America and set an example. Think about it.
Sophie
I love this post SO much! What a sweet story of how you and your hubby were brought together by your passions. I love it! What a great family!
Nazia @ ThisBakerGirlBlogs
This was so lovely to read! My love of food has definitely made me a lot closer to others in my life. Isn’t it just the best?! :)