Linda’s SoCS prompt this week.

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “cook.” Find a word that means “cook,” (or use “cook” itself) and use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

Now this post is dedicated to all those cooks who turn into 5-star chefs at this time of year.

Admittedly, all the offerings don’t end up as Michelin starred dishes, but hey, we all try, don’t we!

As a child, I always used to look forward to our Christmas dinner. We had chicken, though, not turkey, as Pops wasn’t fond of the dry meat. Served up with the obligatory stuffing, roasties, Pigs in Blankets and veg, not forgetting the gravy, it always tasted amazing!

It wasn’t until I got married that I actually realised exactly how much work went into this one meal!

From the initial buying of all the components, to the preparations, to the timing of all the individual items, to the juggling of oven space… my, it was mind blowing!

I think my respect for my mother went up 10 notches just after juggling that first Christmas meal!

Since then I have single-handedly cooked a fair few festive meals, until my brother in law got married, then there were two of us to deal with the preparations!

Sounds totally sexist, right? The women in the kitchen, slaving away, while the blokes slowly get tipsy and watch Christmas TV!

Well, if I am honest, I’d rather be in the kitchen!

Let them deal with the kids moaning that there aren’t enough batteries, or working out how to fix presents together! And they can also ration the TV between themselves… fun when you have kids wanting one thing, and the adults totally different programmes!

No, I’d much rather be in the kitchen cooking. It’s rather fun, to be honest, glass of wine at the side, good company to while the time away, and someone to share the burden with!

And satisfying when everyone enjoys the meal… even brussel sprouts!!!

Merry Christmas all!