Sharing, connecting, enjoying ..… while having dinner together

Here I am after a rejuvenating weekend where I spent time with friends, went on a couple of hikes, danced, baked a lot and simply connected with people I care about and did the activities I love the most.

While waiting for dinner ... with friends

Sharing, connecting, enjoying .....while having dinner together has been on mind a lot lately. The concept of cooking and having dinner together as a family is getting to be a rare commodity these days at least in the American society and it makes me really sad to see that.

There are signs though that it might be getting back into our lives here in America because of the bad economy. Everything in life has the positive and negative side and the poor economy has certainly some positive effects; bringing families closer. It’s getting quite expensive to eat out all the time so more and more people opt to home cooking and sharing meals as a family.

Over the years, I have made it a priority to cook and eat at home as a family for most of the days of the week. I can already “hear” your protests telling me that you are working long hours and you don’t have the luxury of cooking after a long day’s work. On top of that everyone in your family has a weird and busy schedule and it’s not easy to coordinate so that everyone can eat together. I have to disagree. It’s possible to eat together as a family at least a few days of the week. It does require planning and it does require making it a priority on everyone’s schedule but it pays off in the end. It brings people together and closer to one another when they prepare and share meals together.

It’ doesn’t have to be an elaborate meal as long as you prepare it at home. Set the table nicely – I am big on that – great atmosphere helps me get in a great mood and enjoy my meal even more. I am also a big advocate to use whatever I have; I use my nice plates and candles all the time. If I have something I use it. I don’t save things just for special occasions.

I have made it a priority in my family to have dinner together with a home cooked meal at least a few times per week now that my daughter is a teenager and she has her own schedule. When she was little a home cooked meal was a daily routine.

Cooking dinner together or simply eating together is a bonding experience that I greatly value and enjoy. It’s a time where I forget about everything else and I talk with my family about our day, what went well and what went wrong, laugh and simply enjoy each other’s company! During dinner I take the opportunity to talk with my family about things we normally don’t have time to discuss at other times because we are so busy. And don’t forget that eating a home cooked meal is healthier than an average restaurant – I am not referring to high end restaurants - and it can also be less expensive! It’s a win-win situation.

Worldwide leaders have talks and discussions about serious issues over a luncheon or dinner. Food is a universal language that brings people together so why can’t we use it more at our own homes?

Based on this article I have recently read more and more people in America are doing it as well. Hooray!

This is what was served for dinner in my house tonight.

It’s very easy to prepare!

Wild Pacific Cod with Olive Tapenade

1 ½ pounds wild Pacific cod

2 tablespoons ground pecans

2 ounces anchovy fillets in olive oil

½ cup finely chopped green olives

½ cup olive oil

3 large potatoes

½ cup chopped parsley

Slice the potatoes. Place at the bottom of a baking dish. Drizzle half of the olive oil over the potatoes.

Place in a pre-heated oven and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes uncovered.

Prepare the olive tapenade. Finely chop the olives, parsley, anchovies, mix with the ground pecans and the olive oil from the anchovies. Mix well together.

Take the potatoes out of the oven.

Place the cod fillets over the potatoes.

Drizzle the rest of the olive oil over the cod fillets.

Place a couple of teaspoons of the olive tapenade over each fillet and cover with foil.

The last 3-4 minutes before removing from the oven remove the foil.

Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Serve immediately with a nice green salad.

Serves 4

Enjoy while sharing with others!

Bon Appetit – καλη ορεξη!

Till next time ...stay well.