My Sunday Club

My sister-in-law Lotlot has been taking cooking lessons. It is a course she will take for about nine months. She eventually wants to become a chef. She loves cooking and dreams of having her own restaurant someday.

Last Sunday, she invited me to go to her house because she wanted to teach me two recipes she learned: Putanesca and Menudo Sulipiña.

My kids were excited because that would mean they would get to hang out with their cousins. I was excited too, because that would mean learning two new recipes.

I prepared the things of the kids and of course, my notebook where I would write down the recipes.

When we arrived, the kids immediately played with their cousins. Lot was already in the kitchen about to boil the oxtail.

As she prepared the stuff, I watched closely, writing down the ingredients and the procedure.

What started out as simple cooking lesson turned out to be a beautiful afternoon of female bonding.

In between chopping onions and slicing the chorizo, we talked about many things, complaining about this and that, laughing about ourselves and realizing we were having a wonderful time.

Although every Saturday we all go out, watch a movie and eat, that Sunday was more enjoyable.

Ang mga bata, nagkukulitan, nagsasayawan at kami naman ganun din, habang nagluluto.

By about 7:45, the food was ready. We asked the kids to set the table and then served the food.

We first had the Putanesca which the kids loved and in a minute, it was wiped out. Then came the Menudo Sulipiña which was fantastic! Lot said she didn’t spend much for the ingredients but there was a lot of food to go around. We were about 10.

I said that if we had eaten out in a restaurant, we would surely have spent thousands.

This made me realize that one doesn’t need to go to a mall or watch a movie or go shopping to enjoy oneself. Special moments happen in your own home.

We and the kids decided to do that every Sunday. "Sunday club" as the kids put it.

Whatever she learned during the week, Lot would teach me and we would all eat and look forward to the fun we would have.

The kids enjoy going to the mall, playing video games and watching a movie, but that Sunday they had a different sparkle in their eyes. I knew in my heart that they valued our time together more than ever. I knew no amount of money could replace the joy they experienced that day.

It’s okay to enjoy what the world offers us, but let us not forget what really counts. It’s the time we spend with our families, our friends that really matters.

When we look back it’s not something we bought at a store that we will recall. It’s the special moments that warmed our hearts that we will remember. It’s the laughter and even the tears that will forever be embedded in our hearts.

I look forward to this Sunday. A new recipe and and more magical moments we will share.

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E-mail me at babyjackster@yahoo.com