Middle Age Plus

A memorized task list for setting the table and preparing a meal is still part of my daily ritual. The difference is I remember the list, but don't follow it.

For setting the table I was reminded to always put on, knives, forks and spoons, napkins, glasses and plates, bread, butter and jelly, sugar, salt and pepper.

The next list was for the meal itself. I must always have meat, potatoes and gravy, two vegetables, salad, dessert and drink. These checklists run through my mind as I look at what I have concocted today for a meal.

No longer do I always serve potatoes and gravy. In fact it is a rare time that I serve either one. I used to substitute rice for the potatoes until my family became tired of it.

I can remember in Home Economics classes in Junior High (which was then called Domestic Science) we were drilled in how to make good gravy.

By using our hands as a guide, we used two tablespoons of fat, two tablespoons of flour and then slowly stirred in one cup of milk. That completed the use of our hands as measuring guide. I usually considered the thumb as my reminder for the milk after using two fingers for each of the other ingredients.

Gravy was something all girls needed to learn to make well and my later practice of stirring it with an eggbeater to get the lumps out was highly frowned upon.

I am sure that such classes today would not even venture to talk about gravy. We don't consider it a staple anymore. But isn't it good?

I still usually have either meat or eggs in a meal, but if I have a salad I don't have two vegetables. One is enough. Desserts are saved for special occasions or when I really don‚t have very much else to eat in a meal. Ice cream is always easy and has the added benefit of adding a dairy product.

This time of year it is great to have fresh fruits to serve for either salads or desserts, but with frozen food so available we don't have to wait until spring to have this treat.

I still set the table the way my mother instructed me. One big exception, I don't put on bread, butter and jelly. Well, once in a while I do -- again, if the meal is a bit sparse.

My sister boarded with a family years ago that always kept a bowl of peanut butter on the table. That isn't a bad idea, especially since we have been told that nuts are so good for our health.

Cooking for just two makes some changes in my style also. When the family filled the whole table, the place settings were always set the same. I'll have to admit that today with just the two of us; sometimes I get a bit sloppy and only put on the utensils I think we will need.

I have even been known to put cartons of cottage cheese on the table rather than dishing some out in a bowl.

Do you think that I am becoming a slob? Maybe I am getting lazy? Just maybe I am getting a little old.

Routines are important and memories of wonderful mealtimes are precious. But things are changing. What was expected years ago is not the norm. I still firmly believe however that sitting around a table to eat with your family is very good practice.

But it would be more fun if someone else did the cooking!