How to Have a Successful Career AND be Married to a Chef – Part 1

On the blog, I spend a lot of time writing about our chefs and how their career impacts our lives and the lives of our family. I even wrote an entire ebook about supporting them. But what about us?  What about our career?  What about our dreams and desires? I know there are 2 of us in the relationship.  I haven’t forgotten about you!How to have a successful career and be married to a chef The other day, I received a comment on this post that really got me thinking.  As I read it, I began to think of everyone I have made connections with this past year and wondered if many of you were thinking the same thing this reader was. Here’s what she asked:

“Is it possible to be a working wife of chef? Someone’s got to give and I gave up my career when I moved, only to start something else that is taking off. How do you prioritize? What about your own feelings and your contributions too? I realize that the kinder and more patient I am, the more considerate he is. And when I’m a total grouch, all hell breaks loose. I know acceptance is key, and we all know managing a chef’s ego is a delicate issue. I still find it hard to accept the age old stereotype that the wife has always to be the one making sure all is in perfect order for the chef to come home to, because in all honesty – it’s pretty hard too working, running the household, and those with kids, it’s like triple shift work!”

So leaving kids out of the equation, let’s talk about that for a bit. Is it truly possible to have a successful career and be married to a chef (or dating one)? (more…)

What is an Emulsified Family?

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Emulsion

[ih-MUHL-shuhn]

a mixture of one liquid with another with which it cannot normally combine smoothly (like oil and water);  an atypical combination of two things

After a year of blogging on EmulsifiedFamily.com, I have come to love the name “Emulsified Family” and feel it’s the perfect way to describe our family (and probably many of yours.)

Emulsified FamilyWhy?

I’m so glad you asked!

Let’s start off by looking at it from a culinary perspective.  Emulsifying is a delicate process.  It needs to be carefully prepared.  It requires ideal conditions (temperature, balance, interaction, etc).  It won’t hold together forever unless it’s cared for, but can be repaired if it breaks.

Have you ever tried to make mayonnaise?  If you just throw all the ingredients into the blender it’s not going to work.  (Maybe it would work with a Vitamix.  But in my Oster blender . . . no way!!)  But if you take your time and carefully follow the correct procedure, you’ll get something that is far better than what you started with.  All the ingredients on their own are fine.  But together, they can be AMAZING.

Do you see what a perfect term this is to describe the family of a chef?

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How Does a Chef’s Family Celebrate Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving.How does a chef's family celebrate Thanksgiving

I’m curious what comes to your mind when you hear that word.

Do you think turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, time with family, etc?

Or do you think, another holiday by myself, can’t wait ’til January so I can see my chef/husband, etc.

All of those things above come to my mind as the wife of a chef.

Thanksgiving is actually one of our favorite holidays.  God has blessed us with so much and we love talking about that with our girls.

We also love food!  (Big surprise.)  Brown butter mashed potatoes, maple roasted root vegetables, green bean casserole, cornbread stuffing, vanilla bean whipped potatoes, pumpkin cheesecake, rice imperative . . . and turkey (my least favorite part).  Technically I’m making roasted heirloom turkey, according to my husband’s recipe, but even with the fancy title, I would be just fine if we left that out and just enjoyed all the sides and desserts.

I also like the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving as there is so much “food talk” with friends.  We tend to get a lot of food questions from family and friends (thus the reason for this Preparing for Thanksgiving page from my chef/husband), but I love it!  I love hearing about everyone’s favorite recipes.  I LOVE hearing one of my friends tell everyone about how she broke down her turkey and how AMAZING it turned out last year.  I love all the Thanksgiving crafts the girls bring home from school telling what they are thankful for.  Maybe I should say I just love November.  However, the Thursday that the majority of the United States celebrates Thanksgiving is not the highlight of my month. (more…)