Gathering Around the Table

by Paul Birkhead  Rowan Public Library
     
      What comes to mind when you think about having supper?  Do you dread making the meal, the lack of conversation, or cleaning up afterward?  Perhaps you deal with things by joining the masses in the local drive-thru lines.  Rowan Public Library has many resources to make mealtimes enjoyable again.

    I’ve been thinking a lot about supper lately.  Not just because I stay hungry or it’s getting darker earlier.  I read a book a few weeks ago and it was very inspirational.  Dinner with the Smileys was written by Sarah Smiley to document a year-long experiment with her family.  Sarah’s husband was deployed for a year overseas and she took it upon herself to invite a guest every week to fill his ‘empty’ chair at supper.  These guests ranged from her children’s schoolteachers to a U.S. Senator from their home state of Maine.  The book is an honest portrayal of the family’s struggles and accomplishments during that year.  Sharing a meal as a way of building relationships with family, friends, and complete strangers is what really stuck with me after reading the Smiley’s story.

    While you might not be hosting a local celebrity or a state politician every week, you can still make suppertime a memorable event.  One way to do this is by starting traditions involving food.  One idea mentioned in Laurie David’s book The Family Dinner, is to start a weekly ritual such as Taco Tuesdays or Burger Fridays.  Also in the book are tips to make dinner conversation fun and memorable.  Among the many recollections and quotes from celebrities, there’s a very interesting anecdote about what suppertime conversation was like around the Robert F. Kennedy family table.

    One sure way to add excitement to your dinners is to try some new recipes.  The library has shelves full of books about cooking.  They range from the traditional (Betty Crocker’s Cookbook), to the essential (Joy of Cooking), to newer titles such as Michael Symon’s 5 in 5.  If you are not familiar with him, Michael Symon is a co-host of the popular TV talk/cooking show, The Chew.  One of the most popular parts of the show is Michael’s 5 in 5 segment.  In it, Michael Symon creates a dish with five ingredients in five minutes or less at $5 or less per serving.  Think you’d like to try your hand at that?  If you’re up for the challenge, check out Michael’s book and see what meal peaks your interest.

    Perhaps you want to master a traditional recipe or try a new one.  Perhaps you desire to spend more time with your children in the kitchen.  Perhaps you want to create some memorable dinnertime conversations.  Whatever your desire, Rowan Public Library can help you make supper something to look forward to.