MSI Press Blog

  I’ve cooked for years, but nothing refined my culinary skills quite like cooking under the watchful eye of a cat. A cat is not merely a kitchen companion — he is a sous‑chef, a critic, a food safety inspector, and occasionally a thief. Here’s what my feline mentor taught me: Timing is everything. Cats know exactly when food is ready — often before you do. Their internal clock is flawless. I learned to trust my own timing more, and to stop overthinking the moment when a dish is “done.” Presentation matters. A cat will ignore a perfectly good meal if it’s not arranged to his liking. I started paying attention to plating, color, and texture. If it wouldn’t impress the cat, it needed work. Stay calm under pressure. Nothing tests your composure like chopping vegetables while a cat weaves between your ankles. I learned to keep my balance, my focus, and my fingers. Clean as you go. Because if you don’t, the cat will investigate every crumb, spill, and unattended ingredient. I ...

  Today's shared blog post comes from Elizabeth Mahlou, author of A Believer-in-Waiting's First Encounters with God and Blest Atheist :   My cooking is well known -- for how bad it is. In fact, the topic figured prominently in Doah's book,  Mommy Poisoned Our House Guest . My mother gave up on teaching me to cook years ago, saying that it was too expensive because I ruined so much of what I touched. My kids quickly learned that it was better to have Donnie do the cooking, and I could almost always get them to do whatever I asked by threatening to cook. There is, however, one thing I can cook well: ham. So, for this new year's New Year dinner, I made a ham. Now, we usually go out to dinner on special occasions since it really is only Donnie, Doah, and I. However, this year, it was rainy and cold and seemed perfect for a ham dinner and fire in the fireplace. Doah was not so certain, however. Right after that, he ran hollering to Donnie, "Come quick! Mom's cookin...