A Manly Meal

If tonight was the last chance you'd ever get to eat again, what meal would you choose?

Me: Something I didn't cook.

Herm: King crab legs, drizzled with a buttery garlicky sauce and a hint of fresh lime. Fettuccine Alfredo, rich and creamy and flavorful, loaded with mushrooms and shrimp. Oven roasted kale, lightly coated in olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt. Wine, semi-sweet, a frosty Niagara or Riesling.

Perfect example of opposite attraction.

I married a man who loves gourmet food almost as much as he loves me. (I'm okay with that  now.) When he finds something he likes, he will still be raving about it weeks later, if he is especially fond of it, years later.

On one of our first dates he told me about his other love, King Crab Legs. He had a far away nostalgic sort of look in his eyes as he spoke. Even after we were engaged then married he still brought up the past. I made a mental note and saved it for later.

Later happened to be his thirty-third birthday.

A few weeks before that special day, I told my sister, Kate, of my plans and asked if she would help. We were going to make a kingly meal in celebrate of Herm's life. It would be a surprise.

Herm, however, had other plans and suggested that on his birthday we go finish our last minute Christmas shopping, grab Starbucks and people watch for a while. The mall around Christmastime is so delightful.

Frantic, I contacted Kate. If I set all of the ingredients out would you prepare the meal? She was willing.

Our afternoon was wonderful, strolling the mall, sipping lattes and soaking in the holiday cheer. Window shopping and newborn-parent-watching. Eventually we decided to call it a night and head home.

Why are the lights on? Herm asked me as we pulled into the drive. Oh, did I forget to tell you? Our chef is here, preparing dinner. 

We walked into a house smelling of garlic sauteed in butter, of crab and shrimp and all of Herm's favorite things.

The food was prepared, ready to plate. As we sat down to eat, our chef became babysitter, caring for Carson, our then three week old, so that we could enjoy the meal without interruption.

Every thing was fabulous, made to perfection. Herm thought so too, I know this because a year later he still raves about that meal.

His birthday is on the twenty-third, two days before Christmas. Again, he suggested we go finish up our last minute Christmas shopping and this time go out to dinner, we had a gift card to spend at Red Lobster. I willingly agreed to his plan, but just so you know, I will be doing a repeat of last years meal for you, probably sometime after Christmas... Which brings us to Thursday night.

After Carson went down for his nap, I began, whisking, melting, seasoning, and drizzling. Within 30 minutes the food was prepared and plated and Herm was talking again about last years meal and the first time he had king crab legs and how good this food was... And I, a wife who doesn't particularly enjoy preparing food, felt a bit of the joy and delight rub off on me too.

Yes, Herm has another love, and I'm okay with that.


Want to try this meal? The Fettuccine Alfredo was adapted from Pioneer Woman || Garlic Butter Baked Crab Legs came from Big Oven || This recipe is similar to what I did for the kale || And the best Finger Lakes wine is from "The Good Doctor"