Bringing Back The Family Meal

Let's talk family. Family is a precious commodity in this day and time, and becoming more important by the minute. In these hard years, when so many are having to make ends meet and working so hard, many of us are working just as hard to chisel extra minutes in the day to be with our loved ones. Time that was taken for granted in times of prosperity have become precious again. Statistics show more and more families are choosing to "stay in",watch DVDs, play board games. The basics are becoming popular again. It's as if we are returning to a simpler time.

Our Amazing Beer Bread!

A favorite for me has always been meal time, especially dinner. I love cooking a huge meal for my family. Even more, I love the time spent visiting with them while we eat and then just be, letting our food settle, going over the events of the day. When our six children were little, it was a time for them to tell us how school went, spin fantasies about their magical day, and lock precious moments away in our memories. I can look back and literally watch them grow at the table. From booster seat where little heads barely peeked over the table, to long, gangly legs stretched to full length underneath.

Girlfriends and boyfriends were introduced at this table. New friends first became members of our family at this table. New babies were presented at this table. Words of wisdom were shared by my parents and my husband's Mother at this table. Over delicious meals made with love and joy, we all came to know each others hopes, dreams, fear, accomplishments, and upsets.

We had amazing brunches in the fall and the spring, celebrating the changing of the seasons and our lives. Held every Saturday, I would cook a six item menu, and the smell of bacon frying and biscuits baking would waft through the whole neighborhood. We often had 20 in for the meal, and it was such a wonderful sound to hear the front door open, time after time, as sweet voices call out they were there.

Sunday's were extra special, as were holidays. Why are meals fixed on Sunday after church so utterly amazing. Even the feel of the house is different. The day slows down to a delicious crawl. There is a peace that embraces all who enter. The end of one week, the dawn of another. There are so many things to discuss and celebrate, so much news to share.  The holidays were equally full of happiness and wonder. Of course, a circle of loved ones with satisfied tummys and sighs of yumminess were wonderful to me.The proverbial cherry on top.

All that changed four years ago when I had to go back to work. I often worked in the evenings. I can still hear my daughter Melissa calling me at work about four days in; "Mom, please stop working. Dad fixes supper and no one sits down to eat together." It broke my heart. Too soon, it became a regular part of life, a part I miss so much. I was sure I had witnessed the end of my own personal era. While all my children and grand children live within minutes of my house, I'm still working. Getting off at six in the evening makes it hard to get the family settled in for dinner, much less cook. My husband has been doing an amazing job taking over the chef duties. But still, it's not the same. I wondered if I would ever get back to that amazing time in my life with my family. No more big meals, no more amazing brunches.

Enter Country Gourmet Home. A selection of mixes for everything from my crock pot to desert to gravy and more. One of my girlfriends had become a consultant and I decided to add Country Gourmet to my product line at my gift shop. I actually purchased mixes for hostess parties, and had them stored in my kitchen cabinet. One night I came home from work to a warm, fresh loaf of beer bread and delicious home made dip. The beer bread looked like something off of the Paula Dean show; high and firm, with the most amazing mottled brown crust. The bean dip was decadent as we dipped white tortilla chips in and savored every bite. It was such a nice treat.

Easy Bean Dip!

"You did a great job honey!" I commented, "how long did it take you to make all that?'  He answered, "I used your mixes in the cabinet. There was nothing to it!" My mixes? REALLY? That evening I decided to make the 2 minute fudge and it took two minutes. I shared it with my co-workers the next day and they thought I had baked all evening. It was the mix and milk, stir, pour, refrigerate. I was hooked. Now CGH has become a way of life for me in the kitchen. They cut my time in half and allow me to use my imagination and make a mix my "own". I can whip-up a meal in minutes that tastes like I slaved for hours. I can be a part of our table time again, and watch as we create new moments.

Is Country Gourmet Home magic? NO. But the way it has simplified my life and my meals without sacrificing taste or quality is magical. Many of our mixes only require adding water! They are a hoot to prepare and play with by adding your own "extras." They are great way to introduce your sons and daughters to cooking in the kitchen.  It has given me options as a working Mother and wife I thought were lost to days past. It's easy, fun, and good for us. It's also food for our tummies, and our souls.

Shredded Pork Seasoning!

Let Country Gourmet Home bring you and your family back to the table, and back to home cooked meals. It's time to start making memories again!