COMFORT

Last week, I resolved to cook a full recipe of Chicken Marbella. The original recipe is for four chickens, which I rightly thought would be too much for my family of four. Part of me felt it was a little extreme, but then it's a dish that keeps well, so I decided to go whole hog. I cook with free-range spring chicken, so I settled for five, all the while feeling I was cooking for a village.

The day I was all set to put the two-and-a-half pyrexes into the oven, I had an encounter with a bully which left me feeling quite sorrowful, deflated, disappointed and angry. I didn't even know if I could--or should--eat. But motherhood means keeping the space together for everyone and not indulging in your emotions--if you can help it--in front of the children. So that's what I did.

When we finally sat down to dinner, I looked at the festive dish in front of me and suddenly felt truly comforted. Bullies try to make you feel bad about yourself, but the yummy spread in front of me, the joy of my little boys (not to mention their gratitude for the meal before them), put everything back in perspective. I was so happy I decided to cook a big meal, that I decided to cook it that day, and that I had a friend who shared the recipe a few months back. I was suddenly so grateful for all the things that matter. I felt all that even before I took my first bite!

Just google "Chicken Marbella" and the recipe will show up somewhere. It's a lovely comfort food. May it serve you as well as it served me!