AN ALL AMERICAN MEAL AND AN ASIAN TOUCH

I do not cook. Never, unless necessary. Of course, I know how to whip up something easy and some fancy dishes but I never enjoyed cooking. My mother kept saying that a man is pleased when his wife makes his stomach satisfied. I did not listen to her. I said to myself, I'd marry a man who can cook. When my friends got married they told me I needed to learn how to cook because that's the way it is when you get married. But they handed me out a reassurance that cooking can be learned because most of them learned how to prepare meals when they joined in union with their husbands.  "Alright, I'll learn by then...," I told myself.

However, my meager cooking skills did not spring out from being married. It was only when I came here to America  I learned how to make dishes. I lived in a rented room in an apartment in Queens, New York where each of my roommates cook their own meals. It was sheer necessity. I realized I had to live. So, I would watch them prepare and concoct dishes for their own. And soon enough I made simple ones enough to feed myself. Also, while working as a housekeeper, (although cooking is not one of my job functions), my employers would cajole me to make them Filipino food.  I remember I would call my uncle on the phone just to ask him about the step-by-step instructions of making adobo. My first adobo turned out great---they loved it.

When my husband and I were still dating, he'd come over to my place and make something for my roommates and me. The first dish he ever cooked for us was Beef & Chili Bean Soup. My roommates raved over it. I knew then he'd be a great catch.

Now I'm married to him, I never, never, never cook anymore. No matter how tired he is from work, he'd always sit down in the kitchen and start prepping the ingredients. He would not even let me help. Though sometimes, if we are in such in a rush, he would let me lend a hand. Living away from the Big Apple now, Filipino restaurants are non-existent in this state of Connecticut. Therefore, I had to teach him how to make adobo, pansit, afritada, menudo, kare-kare, chicken curry, beef steak (Filipino style), chopsuey, sinigang and banana-cue. I tell you, he makes these Filipino dishes much better than I do or much better than any Filipino I know could ever do. Once after teaching him, I never had to worry about craving for something my native tongue is used to.

Last night, I was very very drowsy, and exhausted.  Usually I am these days. But last night was different because my muscles were strained all over. Probably from sitting too much in front of the computer or the TV.  At almost dinnertime, he would ask me what I wanted for dinner. I said, "Whatever you feel like making, it would be good." He suggested an all-American meal this time saying we haven't had any American meal for several months now, "So how about meatloaf and garlic mashed potato?" I replied, "Sounds good to me."

The meal was very delicious. My husband made the meatloaf and the sauce from scratch. He capped the hearty meal with another surprise---baked oatmeal cranberry cookies. They were irresistible.

After I devoured 4 big cookies, he said, "I'll give you a massage before you go to bed." I grinned and I showed him the White Flower ointment (an Asian healing ointment) my mother bought me.  My mom bought it from an Asian pharmacy in New York. She knows that I love this ointment because of its scent and its healing and soothing effects to sore muscles. I grew up with that ointment's scent and calming feel since my grandmother and my mother used this to rub on to our chests and backs whenever we had a flu or cough when we were kids.

Before going to bed, my hubby gave me a very soothing massage using the White Flower. The results were instant, as my muscles and limbs relaxed and warmed. I might have dozed off quickly. I woke up this morning feeling much energized and much better.

What a lovely all-American meal and a pleasant Asian touch.

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Comments

[dhemz]

wow! lamia ayo te uy...:) napay salin diha.? hehhee

[Angie Atkinson]

Hey Bing! I love LOVE LOVE today's post! Your husband sounds like a wonderful and loving man. You're a lucky girl! Thanks for sharing this awesome story! :)

[Clarisse]

uyyyy yummm. ang sarap. the meatloaf...and the whiteflower! we have that too! and some salompas (hubby and i are "karpal tunnelists" hahaha. -- too much computer use

[ditesco]

Oh my God. I never realized that I missed so much Filipino food. Adobo, pansit, kare-kare, chicken curry, beef steak, just to name a few are my favorites. I envy you for having such a wonderful husband (well the opposite in my case, lol). Take care

[Ria]

Just because were women it doesnt mean that we have to cook for our husbands. My husband and I share our cooking duties and other household things, and it's great having an equality in a marriage. Your husband sounds like a diamond geezer as we would say it here. ;) Glad you feel energized today. :D

[Jenny Fletcher]

Your husband's recipe for meatloaf would be great!
Write it for us here - and the cookies too

[ssnuffy]

Nice Story, and delicious lookin pictures, But no recipe?? Your teasing,,, Thanx for a great post

[Sam]

Hi Mommy Bingkee,

Wow your hubby loves you so much. For sure lami gyud na...

Take care!

[Rocks]

Thank God for wonderful husbands!!! :)

[marie]

you are so lucky that your hubby is a good cook...and the white flower nakatawa ako coz i have omega pain killer mao amo gamit ni dada panghaplas hahaha :)

[Joy Ball]

wow ang sweet naman ng hubby mo. love ka tlaga ng sobra. sana ganon din asawa ko hehehe

[Melinda]

Bingkee--those pictures are making my mouth water! My husband is the primary cook in our family and he is a great one! It actually relaxes him to cook after he gets home from work. He also gives me nightly massages--and yes, oh, yes, I am a lucky woman (and so are you!).

Melinda

[Trent]

Feed your man! If he's anything like me, then he needs spoon fed (not literally). I want some meatloaf, but my girlfriend screws up toast!

[Lori Laws]

You are so blessed to have such a great husband. Mine is pretty great too!

[Mel Avila Alarilla]

What a wonderful husband you have who can whip up a terrific meal just like that. Cap it with a good massage and rubdown to relax your tired body. As the song from The Sound of Music goes, "somewhere in your youth or childhood, you must have done something good" to deserve such a man. He's a great musician and your number one cheerleader who thinks you are really gorgeous. What more can you ask? As they say, "when it rains, it pours." You're really blessed by the Lord. Thanks for the post. God bless you always.

[marie]

We're both lucky not just with our mom-in-laws but with our hubs too. Magaling din si Rey magluto, waiting lang ako lagi since I don't know how to....hehehe kakahiya ako pero totoo e.

Ay tinag pala kita
http://www.mariegvergara.com/?p=505

[Christina]

Hi, B., just stopping by to see what's goin' on with you...I am totally in sync w/your not cooking, my stove wasn't working for over a year and I managed w/ a hotplate and microwave...! Actually, I used to cook more, but since I've been writing & blogging, I use my time more for that stuff...and I'm not married so....yeah, thank you, Lord, for men who cook!!!

[betchai]

you're blessed to have a husband who cooks great. i do not believe however it is the duty of wife to cook for husband, for me, whoever enjoys the particular household chore will do the honor. I love cooking (but I am not sure if I can rival your husband cooking ) so I cook most of the time. My hubby loves gardening, I do too, but I am lazier now so I gave him the honor, other household chores, we share. But the only meal he can cook is grilled chicken or pork chop and steamed vegetables. Definitely I have to cook :( . Anyway, lucky you, you can eat those Filipino dishes at your heart's desire because you have a chef.

[lovelyrainbow1]

Hahaha Bingkee, I'm also like you, I also never enjoy cooking :)