Chef Chandra pleads to be able to keep her post in the kitchen...

As I figured out that Walt was adding to the blog, I wanted to read what he had in the works. As I read, I didn't entirely agree with the way some things were phrased, so we tried (and tried) to collaborate on a way to write what something that we both agreed with...but it, never-the-less, ended up in us both deciding that I should just write a separate response. =)

Clarification #1: Michelle and Amy Lane, by saying that "the kitchen belongs to Rob, Thomas, and me" I meant that (according to the previous posts on the blog and my personal experiences over the past 2 years with R & T) that they (and I) enjoy creating and eating good food. Dear sisters, I KNOW that you guys both do like serving food to your husbands and friends, and that you do like (and are good at) cooking, too! I just said that because I picture Rob and Thomas as particularly enjoying the experience of creating/eating good food, at least prior to being married.

Clarification #2: Walt's right - I don't cook for myself. I feel like cooking anyting for just me to eat is a waste of my time (I'll eat ANYTHING - it doesn't need to be tasty). Earlier this summer, Walt even said, "Dinner is something that you do for me, isn't it?" Yes, it is. If I weren't married, I wouldn't make dinner every day.

Clarifcation #3: I love cooking. I love trying new recipies. I love experimenting. I love creating new tastes. I love planning a 'balanced meal.' I love the experience of having a project that I'm in charge of and seeing it though to the end. I love thinking of how the meals I'm preparing will be a blessing to the recipient(s). Exercise and cooking are my modes of energy-release: not much is more enjoyable to me than to be able to turn on some music or a sermon and spend an entire afternoon cooking a meal that others will later enjoy.

Clarification #4: The reason why I've learned to grill (and do many other things at the house that I used to consider 'Walt's domain') is that he is either too inconvenienced to help me at the time I need it, or I'm too inconvenienced to wait for him to do it. My mantra for as long before we were married as I can remember was, "I can do it", and now with time to be able to think about things more, my mantra is slowly (and unfortunately) manifesting itself in various forms in our marriage. Our particular struggles with sin in this area are evident...

Clarification #5: Have YOU ever tried making custard or game gumbo with Walt? He's a hard man to work with when it comes to "his" foods. =)

Clarification #6: I consider my role to be 'quality control checker' when it comes to the kitchen. If my husband or other people are going to eat it, I want to be in charge enough to make sure it's going to be good.

I'm such a firstborn...

(and just so that it doesn't sound like I'm slandering my husband: Walt had read and agrees with of all of the above) :)