nce upon a time there was a very busy couple. They were so busy, in fact, that they had no time to sit and eat together; they always grabbed food on the run. Consequently, not only did their physical health suffer, so did the mental, emotional and spiritual health of their family life.

One day a friend told them about a woman who loved to cook. "She's a woman who's discerning about the quality of food she cooks and determined that her ‘atmosphere’ in the kitchen be that of love and creativity." The friend also told them that she's willing to cook for families who are too busy but want to eat and dine right, and gave them her number.

The couple decided they'd like to make a change, so they gave her a call. Here's what happened:

Michele cheerfully answered the phone and listened to their inquiry. Yes, she'd love to come and speak with them and ?meet? their kitchen. She spoke with them briefly about the way they'd like to eat and what their preferences were and made an appointment to talk more at length in their home.

On the appointed day, she met with them. She familiarized herself with the kitchen, noting the appliances and utensils, etc., so she'd know if she needed to bring any of her own tools to make her job easier. She also noted the storage space in the refrigerator and freezer, as well as the stock of containers for food storage. She took an inventory of their pantry so that she wouldn't buy things they already had on hand.

They chose a day that she would come and cook, and they agreed that Michele would create a menu for them based on their preferences and the number of meals they requested. She then drew up a shopping list. The day before she was to cook, she took the deposit she had received from them and did their shopping.

The next morning, Michele arrived at 9:00 a.m. with all the groceries ready to create wonderful meals for the family. She worked quickly yet comfortably ensuring the energy in the kitchen was calm and joyful so that it would reflect in their dining experience. Michele prepared and labeled attractive main dishes, freezing some for later use while keeping some fresh in the fridge for immediate consumption. She made a large beautiful salad and dressing that would last the week, as well as a soup and a grain for well-rounded meals. In addition she even prepared a healthful dessert to celebrate a special occasion. The meals were artfully prepared, delicious and nutritious.

After Michele had cleaned the kitchen leaving it just how she'd found it, she set the table for the family?s evening dining experience. It looked romantic and inviting. She left an appealing menu listing all that she had cooked with special instructions where necessary. She wrote out the bill for her services, which included her hourly rate plus the grocery bill, minus the deposit, reaching a final total. She was amazed at how much she'd saved them on wonderful food by knowing the best places to shop.

Arriving home, the family was greeted by a dining room table awaiting their company. They looked at the menu and could barely choose what they'd eat for their evening meal. They wanted to sample it all! They realized an extra bonus in this experience in the form of less waste because she used items they already had on hand. (How many times had they bought special foods with great intentions of cooking, only to find they'd gone to waste before they found the time to attend to them?)

After dinner, Mr. Jones wrote out a check to Michele, ready to send to her the next day with his gratitude. They couldn't wait till she came again to see what other creations she had up her sleeve. They toasted one another over their anniversary dessert.

That's just the beginning.....

back to top