Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Under or overachiever....The dish that raises the question?

So I have not been able to follow through with my goal of four posts a month :( 
But hoping I can do 50%, and succeed at two times a month. Let's be real... 
I was never a straight A student until college.

Interesting start to a food blog titled Colleen Cooks, huh? Well since I started 
the blog in early October, I have taken tons of pictures of great dishes and had 
creative ideas for many posts, even some drafts. But life takes us by the neck and 
drags us where we need to be. Or so I like to believe. So at least I showed up 
again. I am happy about that.
So why the title?  Well, my work life has really been in the driver's seat, and 
cooking has taken the back! Until today, when I realized our staff 
Thanksgiving pot luck is tomorrow! I had signed up for my usual sourdough, 
artichoke, mushroom, rosemary, parmesan stuffing. So delish!  But also so time 
consuming.  That comment gives me great concern for even thinking it...What has 
happened to me during the month of November that cooking is getting the back 
seat? Note: Something to explore and employ strategies to not have that happen 
again.

So I signed up for this dish, yes. But do people really expect that I have the 
time to actually make this from scratch? That is the question when we are in 
leadership roles and get too busy that we forget what is important to us as 
individuals, and ultimately lose touch with what makes us, us.....
So my colleague and dear friend, suggested I cut corners on the dish, at a 
minimum using stuffing croutons. And sadly I am ashamed to say that it actually 
crossed my mind. Yeah I was in a moment of stress so I felt prey to other 
demands that were nibbling away at me. But all too soon, I was at my desk 
responding to tense email exchanges, thinking WTH, why on earth would I want to 
combine delicious, healthy ingredients with packaged/processed foods? I am not 
Sandra Lee host of Semi-Homemade; not dissing her techniques, just not my style. 
So what did I do? Head straight to the grocery store after work, walk the dogs, 
and start on my favorite stuffing recipe. 

After all, the peeps you work with are 
family, given that you spend more time with them than your own blood usually, 
and so they deserve nothing other than the best. Of course, this is also about 
me. Is it me being an overachiever? Making up for lost years with perfected 
cooking? Or an effort to encourage others to not take the easy route and rather 
take the "you are what you eat" philosophy. And I think that the latter is what drives me 
tonight at 10pm cooking for my colleagues. Or at least I like to think so!
Special thanks to Foppiano Chardonnay who saw me through the task! 




7 comments:

  1. We appreciate you and your gourmet dedication!! Can't WAIT for a taste! Thank you for sharing :)
    Asha

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  2. Wow. I admire you SO much for your cooking ability. And, um, stay away from my Mac and cheese, because it's the processed kind. Although I'm totally going to lie and say I made it from scratch!

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  3. I wish I could have tasted the end result (and the Foppiano chardonnay as well!)! You'll have to give me the recipe someday :)

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  4. I'm so glad you never listen to my advice;) Just wondering...how much vinegar is called for in this dish? Tee hee. Love you!!!

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  5. The product and the process were both delicious and inspiring. Thanks so much for sharing with your office family. Daniella

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  6. Your peeps deserve the good stuff - as do you!

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