Is There Enough?
My husband made eggplant parmesan yesterday. It was, in a word, spectacular. It’s good to have a man that cooks and cooks often. The only problem is that we now have enough eggplant parmesan to feed a small army. I think it’s a man thing. The man in my life fears a phenomenon known as Not Having Enough.
Our household now consists of two humans (my husband and I) and several animals that are not allowed table scraps. Therefore, the two humans have to eat whatever is cooked. In preparation for making this dish, my husband bought two eggplants—one for each of us, I guess. He said as he purchased them, “I want to make sure I have enough.” Because heaven help us if we don’t have enough. The big question is, “Enough for what?” Enough to feed a baseball team? Enough to feed two people for a week or more? Enough to completely fill the cool French casserole dish he just bought? Whatever the reasoning, there was definitely “enough.” Again, it’s excellent, so I am not complaining. I’m just amazed that he’s mystified as to how he ended up with so much. There were two entire eggplants involved after all. And a bucket of shredded cheese. (I can’t wait for lunch!)
I noticed that the same theory of generosity is applied to shampoo application. I have roughly five times as much hair as my husband, so of course, his bottle of shampoo disappears five times faster than mine. Back when I washed the dishes (we have no dishwasher) a bottle of dishwashing liquid would last for at least a month. Now that my husband does the dishes while I write, a bottle of detergent lasts about two weeks. I pointed out the word concentrated on the label, but…well, who’s going to complain when a man is doing the dishes? I’ll buy a bottle of dish soap a week if I have to.
I don’t even want to get into the toothpaste, except to say that he does toothpaste just like they do in the ads, with a curly-Q of paste looped over on itself. I always wanted to do my toothpaste like that when I was a kid, but my mom wouldn’t let me. By the time I had control of my own toothpaste, the minimalist habit was deeply engrained.
So, I’m not complaining, because I have a guy who cooks like a pro, does dishes and is well groomed, but I am curious…has anyone else noticed this phenomenon? Is it a gender thing? Or am I simply married to a man who believes in making certain he has Enough?
In our house, I'm usually
In our house, I'm usually the "MUST HAVE ENOUGH" person -- but then, my husband doesn't cook very often. LOL!
Now I crave eggplant parmeson!
M
Hi Megan
This is great eggplant parmesan. We watched a show on FoodTV (Bobby Flay Throwdown) and watched a guy from New York City make the family recipe. Now it's our family recipe, lol.
Great, now I'm hungry!!!
Great, now I'm hungry!!!
Okay...
Was trying to think of what to make for dinner when Mike gets home from this trip this week, and you just clinched it for me -- eggplant parmesan it is. :)
I am the "make sure there's enough" person -- grew up in a family with a mom who catered, and I worked with her, so we're used to making a lot, LOL. Also, better too much than too little -- in case other people show up, or you want to freeze some, or you want more....
I mean, I hate to say it, but my response to your post was "only two?" with the eggplant, LOL...
Sam
LOL! I"m a big fan of the
LOL! I"m a big fan of the cook ahead, eat a few meals, philosophy, too.
The Recipe
We bought a mandoline just to make this dish. He sliced the eggplant lengthwise, fairly thin, breaded and fried it, then put the dish together like a lasagne, using fontina and romano cheeses and a homemade sauce, of course. Usually we just slice the eggplant the round way, bread and fry, then put mozarella on it and broil before adding sauce. This new way is soooo much better. I can't wait for lunch. We were actually ten minutes away from home this morning when we realized We forgot the eggplant paremsan! Needless to say, we went back to get it.
Huh
That sounds like what I've always known eggplant to be, a lasagna like dish. The italian women I grew up with would salt the eggplant with ice in the sink overnight, but I never do that, and it ends up fine. I use egg and flour w/ a little pepper in it -- flour first, then egg, fry it, and then layer it with sauce and cheeses, and sometimes sausage.
Sam
Never Enough!
Hi Jeannie,
Sounds delicious -and I'm hungry now - skipped breakfast and eggplant parmesan sounds sooo good. I like having enough - and I generally make too much food - I'm used to cooking for people, but right now it's just me, so I end up freezing a lot of food. The joys of being a student.
Maybe it's an age thing. In college, I had some friends over for dinner. I made enough for 8+ people. In fact, it turned into so much food I had to use 2-3 pots for that dish. The two guys ate it. All. It was fascinating, and scary.
Not a Guy Thing
So, it isn't a gender thing. Hmmm. Maybe it's the cook for a crowd thing.
My husband grew up in the restaurant business. He has no concept of scrimping on food to help make the budget work, because no matter what, when he was a kid, there was food, lol.
There you go...
I grew up poor, so I'm both the scrimper and the "Will we have enough" girl. I'm totally incapable of cooking small because I grew up cooking for 6. Small portions are harder.
What I want to know is why NO guy is capable of using a reasonable amount of toilet paper. Even just to wad it up and get a bug. It's like they think the stuff is cotton candy. LOL!
Dee
(who is almost willing to eat eggplant after that description!)
Hey Dee--I hear you on the
Hey Dee--I hear you on the toilet paper issue. Paper towels are another. Nothing like growing up on an extreme budget to make one constantly conscience of how much of anything is being used.
Also, eggplant doesn't taste like eggplant in this dish. It just tastes heavenly.
Both, maybe?
Jeannie,
I think cooking for a crowd helps - but also... it's a gender thing. Guys eat a LOT up to their mid 20s - or at least, all the ones I know. Many of them use chipotle burritos as standards for measuring -and most of them say one wasn't enough in college - and that they could eat 2-3. Later, most of them start slowing down, but I think they're just used to being able to eat a lot. And wanting it too.
For all guys are the "practical down to earth" ones... I agree that they have little to no budgeting sense.
Blech!!
In my world, any eggplant is way too much!! LOL - it would be far more than "enough". :-)
When cooking for a crowd, I'm the "will we have enough" person. For a small group, or regarding toothpaste, TP, etc, my husband is the one. Same with that dishsoap, Jeannie!! He uses a ton, but hey, who's going to complain when a man is doing the dishes? :-)
Hi Cathy! And the answer
Hi Cathy! And the answer is...no sane woman is going to complain if a man is doing dishes, lol!
My husband does not shop,
My husband does not shop, cook or even put the dishes in the dishwasher.
I have not mastered the art of cooking for just two people.
More than enough
Hi Jeannie, My Mother was Italian so when I say we always had more than enough, I really mean more than enough. My Mother would always cook like she was feeding an army. She always said "You never know who will stop in for a visit". Somebody always stopped in just at dinner time. My Mother was a really great cook. She loved making eggplant parmesan and any and all Italian dishes.
What I'd really like to know is: Where do I find a husband like yours? He cooks, and does the dishes? Can I clone him? My hubby can't even boil water without burning it. If my hubby ever offered to do the dishes, I think I'd have a heart attack. Consider yourself lucky that you have such a wonderful husband even if he does overdo on some things. He sounds like a real treasure.
Have a great day. Hugs, Mads:)
Hi Estella and Mads
I have to admit I didn't always have a man who cooked and did the dishes. He took all that over when I was first published, because I didn't have time to write and do all that other stuff, too. The neat thing is, he took it over voluntarily. I do think he's a catch.
Personality, not gender...
is what I think :) I'm a bit of a "will there be enough" kind of person, and tend to do that when cooking and shopping. My husband is much less that way, although I have to say that he's a MUCH better cook! :)
Jeannie, what a keeper you've got! ;)
Chiming in Late
Jeannie, your post just made me laugh, so thank you for that (see spirit-lifters, today's post)!! In my family, I'm definitely the one who has to have Enough. When DH and I were dating, I bought more food for our weekends together than I did for an entire week for just myself. He would always be amazed and, finally, a little irritated at how much food I'd prepare for him, especially since he was trying to stay fit. But I absolutely subscribed to the theory that the way to a man's heart was through his stomach. But now that I've had said man for 20+ years, I still need to ensure we have Enough. When I can see the back wall of my fridge, freezer, pantry, etc., it's time to go shopping, and sometimes I have a tough time finding room for all that food. For me, I know it's a direct result of my upbringing, when we had to ask permission to eat anything. That kitchen was definitely not an open-door kitchen where you could help yourself to whatever, whenever you were hungry (like my kitchen is now). My dad even padlocked some of the cupboards so us kids couldn't snitch food. And now he wonders why we all have eating disorders, LOL.
Hi Jeannie
Hi,
I'm guest blogging tomorrow and wanted to test out my signature, etc. I picked your post because I knew you'd let me experiment on you. (insert evil doctor laugh)
My husband is the More Than Enough man. I come from a Just Enough or Maybe Not Quite family so the adjustment was tough but freeing!
Cheers,
Ellen
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com
Ellen--You are welcome to
Ellen--You are welcome to experiment on me any time. I'm from a Just Enough or Not Quite Enough Make Due family, too. You may not remember, but I told you that you looked like my cousin when we first met. Now I'm thinking you must be a cousin. :)
Cousins
You would certainly fit right into our family gatherings. If you're ever in Central NY, stop by. ;-)
Ellen
His Secret Past May 2008, Harlequin Superromance
www.ellenhartman.com