The Perfect Meal

Friendship

Home is where the heart is.

The perfect meal isn’t often fancy or expensive.  It isn’t rushed or pretentious.   The perfect meal is the meal we enjoyed the most, remember the most often, try to replicate and brings warmness to our souls.  While the food is the reason you sit around the table it is often not the reason this meal was the perfect one.

            More likely the perfect meal is / was perfect because of setting, the feelings, the people around you.  There was laughter, conversion with trusted friends, and you were confortable in your own element.   Such meals happen around the kitchen island, on the back deck, on a blanket at the beach.  These meals consist of comfort food out of the oven.  Sandwiches made with leftovers, and last minute ideas thrown on the grill. 

            I had the joy of one such meal just this past weekend.  While helping a friend set up a new toy in the living room the question of dinner was asked.  Her husband wanted to know about steaks or fish.  I asked if there was a real need to choose.  Apparently there was not.  We did discuss the options of T-bone or prime rib.  We went with T-bones.

An hour later, the perfect meal of steaks and white fish on the grill was served.  There was asparagus and tossed salad.  The conversation ranged from the woodchuck on the lawn, biking, summer’s vacation plans, to what time the game started.  The day was warm and the sun was shinning but that’s not what made the meal worth writing about.   We are old friends spending time to remain friends, remain close, and having a great time in the process.

            One such occasion is never to far away.  It is only a matter slowing down to recognize it when it happens.  The ingredients are endless but seldom found in stores.  The directions are simple.  Prep-time, well that is anywhere from a few minutes to a lifetime. 

            Call friends, get something out of the freezer, add laughter, old memories while making new ones, and stir.  Serves as many as you would like as often as you can.  Shoes and shirt optional, smiles required.