Loyal

Loyalty is an important trait. It is one of the MOST important ones, in my opinion. I think it's crucial to have in marriages, with friends, and in families.But I have discovered an area in my life where I am not really loyal...at all. In fact, you could say I have a wandering eye. I can't help it! I just cannot commit! How can I settle on one when something even better is just around the corner?? And how can I ever know if this one is the best without trying everything else?!Relax. I'm talking about food. Recipes, specifically. When it comes to recipes, I'm always on the prowl.It didn't used to be this way. I went to college armed with my mother's amazing recipes. She is a phenomenal cook, so why look anywhere else? I was loyal.Things changed.One day, a friend shared her lasagne recipe with me. It was delicious. Then, a few years later, another friend pointed me to a food blog. I tried recipe after recipe, at first slowly incorporating them in with my tried and true meals. But soon, it wasn't slow and it became a neverending quest for new recipes. I couldn't stop!Loyalty? What's that?Last summer I found this great ebook full of new and fun summer dinners. Yes, please. They were all new! Unexplored, untasted, yet-to-be-reviewed! I was thrilled at the prospect.My family, however, did not share in my excitement. Truthfully, not everything was great. But every three or four recipes, I'd find something absolutely divine. And that was enough to fuel my fire and keep going.After about two weeks, tensions were high and mutiny seemed plausible. It had been four days of mediocre dinners. Brian came home from work and asked what was for dinner? I named the new recipe that was waiting to be eaten. GAH! Complaints seemed to spill out of everyone."Why don't you make pesto pizza?!""Can't we have lasagne again?""I hate this food! Why don't you make the stuff we like?!"We said the prayer and started eating. And it was wonderful. The meal was loved and devoured by us all. As we were cleaning up the dishes, Brian said, "well kids, I hope you enjoyed it because we won't ever eat this again."I laughed.We made it through the entire summer of new recipes, and no one died. Instead, I found several new things that I love to make and eat.My quest continues. I'm always on the search for the next best thing. However, I'm trying to be more empathetic to my family members who would like to eat a delicious recipe more than once.I have a binder in my kitchen full of my favorite dishes. But my recipes know they can never be too comfortable. Grandma's caramel sauce? Watch out. If I find something better, it's gone.If you have something you love, feel free to share. I'm always looking and available.