For Christmas last year I asked my wife for an experience instead of a thing.
She turned it into a choose-your-own-adventure. I could pick almost anything — a class, a trip, an outing, something I’d been curious about but hadn’t made time for. The only rule was that it had to be something I’d actually do, not something I’d intend to do and reschedule into oblivion.
I chose a cooking class. Specifically: New Orleans. Cajun. Creole.
The class ran three hours, and it was excellent — hands-on from the start, no standing around watching someone else cook. We moved through several dishes, learning technique and building flavor as we went. The instructor knew the cuisine deeply, not just the recipes.
A couple weeks later I locked in two of the recipes at home: a proper gumbo (chicken, andouille, shrimp — the roux done right, low and slow until it’s the color of dark chocolate) and honey butter cornbread baked in a cast iron skillet. Both turned out well. The gumbo especially — there’s something satisfying about a dish that rewards patience and can’t really be rushed.
I’ve got a few more dishes from that night I haven’t tackled yet. I’m looking forward to them.
We capped the weekend with a family walk at a local park — one of those early spring days where the trees are still bare but you can see the Smokies clearly from the ridge, and the lake catches the light just right. A good reminder that this area has a lot going for it.
This young-at-heart GenX hubby and dad had a pretty good weekend.
If you’re in a gift-giving rut with someone who doesn’t need more stuff: ask them what they’ve been meaning to try. Then make it easy for them to actually do it. That’s the whole trick.
Originally shared on LinkedIn.
