Asbestos Hands

I love to cook! Okay, a little too much emphasis on the love part.

Let me re-state that comment: I love to cook  on my terms, and my terms only! 

I am one of those kitchen tyrants that believe in the mantra, "Too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the broth." Don't get me wrong,  I positively gush with enthusiasm when our family is pitching in  to create a fantastic meal., in fact I encourage it! (Except for when my husband adds a little too much of this and that spice...)

Unfortunately, as I am cooking,  I tend to get anxious over  the dreaded clean up time. It stems from the wise advice of a former neighbor, nearly twenty years ago, and much to my family's chagrin, I adhere  to that advice.

You see, when I was a young stay at home mom, I enjoyed cooking, and especially trying elaborate new recipes. My main complaint was the gigantic mess that did not magically disappear on its own. Add that to the dreaded bewitching hour...if you are a mom you know what I am talking about. I had a three year old and a baby to contend with and dinnertime is prime cranky time  Even back then I had to pick and choose my battles Obviously the kids were priority so the mess remained...till later.

So, what is this advice I speak of? It is relatively simple:  " Clean up as you cook."  Yes, that is  it!  Done with that mixing bowl?  Wash it out NOW while the  pot of  whatever is simmering on the stove. Are you done sauteing  the onions and garlic? Then wash out the iron skillet! Why oh why let it all accumulate when you are zapped of energy from a long day at work?

One night after frying up chicken cutlets for my famous chicken cutlet parmigiana,  I grabbed the iron skillet, and immersed it into scalding hot water. I was racing the clock to get as much mess cleaned up before actually eating dinner, when my husband came over to the sink to rinse off his hands (yes, he was helping, too) "Ouch!, he exclaimed with a couple expletives thrown in for good measure. "Why do  you always make the water so hot?"  Our kids were in total agreement with him,about how desensitized my hands are to heat. "Just call me "Asbestos Hands", I blurted out. That cracked everyone up including myself. 

Well, tonight Asbestos Hands can take it easy. A  big pot of  homemade chicken soup was prepared yesterday, so this evening will  be a relaxing one...until later in the week when the pot needs to be washed.