From Reader’s Digest…
My grandfather is a meat and potatoes guy. Once, while getting dinner ready, I asked how he liked his vegetables prepared. He said, “Fed to a cow, so they’ll turn into steak.”
Hayley Rosenbaugh, Houston, Texas
See that steak up there?
That’s what love looks like.
My honey prepared that beautiful ribeye for me this weekend – complete with mood lighting, ’80s music (because nothing says “love” like Tone Loc) and clearing of the dishes. All of the things I like.
That’s why I made that photo look like it was in a dream sequence. It was.
After a week-full of “Can you do this?” and “Mom, where’s my _____?” and “You owe me $XXX.XX” – I needed a display of affection.
Apparently, it showed.
Because the hubs planned this meal just for me.
Funny how food is a way to show love, but we know it’s been that way for thousands and thousands of years. Who am I to question it now? It works for me.
And hey, I got a steak out of the deal. It’s not exactly “The Notebook,” but I’ll pray for more nights like those – and I’ll be thankful every single time!
Who in your life could use a steak?
It’s getting close to Christmas and the tension in the air is palpable at our house.
We like to tell stories with our kids before we go to bed. And now that Christmas is only days away, ALL our nighttime stories are Christmas-related.
My husband and I try to impress upon the kids that old adage about being “naughty or nice” and the possibility of a lump of coal in their stockings. Things like, don’t beat your brother black and blue trying to race him to change the “countdown to Christmas” statue to today’s number.
Santa doesn’t like that.
So, at story time a few days ago, my oldest added a new twist to the lessons we have been carefully teaching.
“Once upon a time,” he began, “the elves were busy building toys in the North Pole. And Santa was getting the reindeer in line. Sometimes they didn’t listen to him. So Santa grabbed some steaks and threw them at them. One got stuck in Blitzen’s antlers. The end.”
Apparently steak is so prevalent in my house that that’s the first thing that came to mind for Santa to hurl at the reindeer. Nice.
My littlest’s eyes were so wide by this time. You could see the gears turning in his head.
“Mama, what happens when Santa is naughty?” he asked.
Sometimes I just want to scream, I DON’T KNOW, PEOPLE! THIS STUFF ISN’T EVEN REAL!
But I maintained my composure and ended the night with a brilliant, “Well, that’s silly, honey. It’s a made-up story. Santa would never do that. Good night.”
I never said I was the kid whisperer. Often, it’s enough to just get through the day without any obvious psychological damage.
I am, however, wondering if the story about Santa chunking steaks at the reindeer might just become a new classic. Maybe you’ll see it on TV next year. 7 pm on ABC Family channel?
Or maybe not.
Photo courtesy of DigitalDreamMachine.com.
Hi! My name is Dena P., and I love steak. In fact, I’ve been on a quest for the perfect steak for a few years now.
I love experimenting with food and I like to get my family, friends and neighbors involved. They add a lot to my cooking experience by helping me perfect techniques and sharing recipes.
