A Little Cumin to Cure the Monday Madness

The school bus pulled up right on time yesterday afternoon and with a bright smile on my face, I greeted my older kids as they stepped off. Instead of arms open wide for hugs, I got crossed arms and shrugs of disappointment. No Root Beer left over from our Super Bowl party and no play dates planned. Things just weren’t going their way and, as I was told over and over, I was a bad mommy.

My mood suddenly altered by my grouchy school children, the idea of making dinner was last on my “want to do” list. Until, that is, my friend Debbie stopped by with her kids. I had some ground lamb on hand and together, we created a meal that soothed our souls while feeding our hungry bunch.

Debbie mixed the meat with her hands while I added cumin, garlic, Middle Eastern Allspice, salt, and onion powder. Crushing dried rosemary in the palm of my hand, memories of that sour greeting from the bus began to fade. The basmati rice simmering with cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom cast a calming spell throughout the house. And, with the lamb patties sizzling on the grill, my earlier troubles became unimportant.

I don’t know what I would have served my family for dinner had I been alone. I do know that without a friend, I probably couldn’t have cooked away the Monday blues.