I’ve dreamed of being spontaneous – ready instantly for any eventuality life might bring. Alas, I am not by nature given to acting on sudden impulses. To paraphrase Webster, I am not given to acting without effort and premeditation. Consequently, I am learning to plan to be spontaneous.
I don’t know about your world, but in mine, being spontaneous with family and friends most often involves food. Having ingredients on hand is essential – a complicated recipe is not.
enamel roasting pan
olive oil
onion, sliced
add lemons, cut in wedges and squeezed
garlic cloves, peeled
whole chicken(s)
lemons halved, squeezed into and put in the cavities
seasoned with salt, pepper, and fresh rosemary
partially baked, potatoes added
baked a bit longer, carrots added
asparagus added
served on a big platter in the middle of the table
along with arugula dressed with olive oil and balsamic,
enough to feed and appeal to a crowd of various ages.
Are you naturally spontaneous, or working on it???….I’d love to hear your stories!
Susan Wennerstrom | W designs 
Spontaneous, ha….so not me. I even still read recipes I have had for years. My husband, Rod, and my daughter can see a dish in their minds and then just whip it up. And that is good. But when it comes to a well baked pie or cake or muffins. My recipes and careful preparation have turned out dishes that are never refused. From the time we met, I have known that my husband is so much better at “putting together” a meal at a moments notice that would turn heads, than me. I don’t mind. I am a dreamer, I need rules and recipes to keep me grounded. By the time I touch ground and then consider the good and the bad of something, somehow all the spontaneity is gone. But I am learning to accept that even that is OK…..
Karen, you and Rod are a match made in heaven!!!