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Photo: Jennifer Causey
The previous 12 months had been grueling, life-altering, as I struggled with parenthood. Juliet was a crier—in fact, it’s still her favorite way of getting her point across now that she’s just shy of 2 years old. She’s fierce, strong and deeply independent and I adore her for that. But as an infant she didn’t seem to like anything, including me. I tried my best. I played guitar for her, took her for walks, cuddled with her on the couch and read her bedtime stories. But nothing seemed to help.
When Juliet arrived, I swore that I would never take her for granted, lose sight of her future or forget the pain and struggle my wife and I had shared. Still:What did I get myself into?Sleep-deprived and lost in an isolated world of ceaseless crying, dirty diapers, bottles and pacifiers, I found no love of being a father.
But I did have a passion for cooking. As a trained chef, I’m most confident and comfortable working with food. It’s central to my life and, to me, there is no greater way to show love than feeding someone.
Jennifer Causey
Try Adam’s recipe:Broccoli & Cheese Omelet
“See how the egg yolks this morning are bright orange? The color has to do with what the chicken ate.”
“Bock! Bock! Bock!” she replied, mimicking the chickens she’d befriended at the local farm.
“Here, taste this Jack cheese; it’s a lot milder than Cheddar, isn’t it?”
“Mmm … more. More!” she squealed.
“Let’s put some chives on top. It looks pretty and the oniony flavor complements the rich eggs so well.”
“No,” said Juliet, spitting out the fistful of chopped herbs she’d shoved in her mouth.
“Sweetie, those are the same chives you pick and eat from our garden.”
“Mmm … more!”
We’d finally found a way to connect.
Now that my little girl is an active toddler, her patience for watching me cook has all but vanished. She’s too busy chasing our dog and talking to her stuffed animals. But when I’m standing over the stove, if I ever feel a little tug on the back of my pant leg, I’m happy to take a moment, pick up Juliet, and show her what I’m cooking. I hope this early work means she won’t be a fussy eater, but my real wish is that she’ll carry these memories with her and one day share my love for cooking. Until then, I’ll continue to share as many textures and flavors as I can with her, and relish every chance I get to make Juliet an omelet.
Adam Dolge is lead recipe developer at EatingWell.
This article is part of Stirring, a series about the intersection between food and love—and why being in the kitchen just makes life better. Read the other articles in the series, includingSummer Miller’s family and the importance of dinnerandGabrielle Hamilton’s relationship with her wife and their love for coffee. The series originally appeared in EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2020.
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