"Why! Why is it always tasting different?" Sam muttered, staring at the bubbling pot of stew he was making for himself and the kids for dinner. The kitchen was filled with the sweet aroma of good cooking, not until he tasted it and realised that it was a good good with just the aroma.
He cursed himself for not paying attention when his wife was always in the kitchen making their kid's favourite stew. He was always the gist partner in the kitchen and never tried to learn how she made it or the secret ingredient involved. And that was because he thought she'll always be there to make it for them forever so he paid no attention to it.
But now, she had been on an outreach mission in the north for the past three weeks, and he had been the one making the meals he and the kids ate. He began to see how important her wife's cooking was. Realising that it was part of what brought the family together.
The reason he's always rushing home after work for dinner is the reason his kids barely eat outside. The reason they're all gathered in the dining room like one family after a long day. Because his wife's cooking had that spice that made them look up to meal time.
He leaned against the counter and let his mind drift to the time spent with his wife in the kitchen. Her laughter and how she complains of the early afternoon sun filtering through the lace curtains into the kitchen making the counter too hot for her. He let his mind drift. Maybe, just maybe, he could remember anything, something at all that he hadn't added.
"Dad I'm starving!" The voice of his youngest son cut him off his thoughts as he walked into the kitchen. "Is the food not ready yet?" He asked with a squeaky face and hands to his stomach.
"Soon son, soon", Sam replied, watching his son walk out of the kitchen.
Then he started fidgeting. What exactly was he missing? What exactly is the secret ingredient? He added more pepper and spices yet it tasted nothing like it. He stirred and stirred, but stirring wasn't an ingredient. He spoke words of affirmation to the stew, yet nothing felt right. He was starting to feel frustrated.
He took off his apron and slammed it on the kitchen counter with so much rage and frustration. He was done trying to find the secret ingredient to cook. He was going to order some stew online for dinner.
Just at the door, he paused as he remembered his wife telling him one time as they cooked together
"Honey, could you please pour the broth into the stew, cover and let it simmer for a few minutes? Then you set it off the fire. While I quickly rush down to the office to meet a client. I'll be back before dinner"
Standing at the door, he smiled at his ignorance. "Ah ha!" he exclaimed joyously. That was the secret ingredient he had forgotten to add. The beef broth
He had bought the beef for the stew but didn't remember to boil it.
Quickly, he ran back to the grocery bag in a mix of excitement and grabbed the beef he had set aside. Chopped them to a tiny bit and put them into a pot of boiling water, then sprinkled it with some required spices and seasoning. And in a few minutes, the rich aroma filled the kitchen. He laughed at himself and his ignorance for forgetting something so important.
With the broth ready, he quickly poured it into the stew and simmered for a few minutes before setting it off the fire. This time, the flavours blended in perfect harmony, and when he tasted it, it tasted like the beef stew his wife had always prepared for them.
“Alright, son! Dinner’s ready!” he yelled from the dining room.
And soon, his kids came running into the dining room.
He watched and waited to see their reaction as they put their first spoon into their mouths with eyes closed as they relished in its deliciousness.
"So, what do you guys think?" He asked when none of them complimented his cooking.
“Perfect,” he chorused.
