The Need for Vigilance

I've read your golden rule guide for the kitchen and completely agree that one must maintain 100% vigilance at all times. But please, do stress to your readers that vigilance needs to be maintained at least until the tucker has been safely tucked away.

On one sad occasion I failed to transpose kitchen vigilance beyond the kitchen door and this led to dire, messy consequences, empty bellies and a sadder, though wiser cook.

Having prepared my favourite dish of Darren's Dad's Dhal and Kofta curry, I whisked the dishes out of the house for the five minute car journey to my mothers. Having forgotten the raita and fougard side dishes, I dashed back inside and that is when I broke the golden rule of cookery.

Driving to my mothers my mind drifted into the fascinating realms of SAT grades predictions: had my kids done enough? Would I really be able to add any added value? Could I beat last year’s residuals?

And then it happened: a beige tabby shot out in front of the car leaving me a split second to brace the raita and fougard dishes against the passenger seat. They were saved...

And it was at that moment that two identifiably familiar dishes flew like missiles from the roof of the car; dishes that I had placed in a momentary lapse of vigilance upon the roof of my car as I went to retrieve the forgotten accompaniments.

The aroma of two beautifully cooked dishes arose from the tarmac and now, whenever I cook Darren's Dad's Dhal it is a haunting reminder of the day that my vigilance slipped.

Darren