We are a family that is always on the go. A free weeknight is rare, a weekend, even rarer. I'm usually thinking two steps ahead and rushing full speed to get there. As I result, I tend to opt for quick and easy meals. Unfortunately, as much as I strive for efficiency, too often I fall into the trap of taking shortcuts and rushing through life. When I purposefully take a step back, slow down, and, cliche as it sounds, enjoy the ride, I witness a bit of perfection that would otherwise never come to fruition. I've noticed this in parenthood, in my marriage, and, yes, in my food. There's something particularly satisfying about a meal that you planned and then took time perfecting, far more satisfying than a rushed and distracted thirty minutes. 

The fact of the matter is, sometimes the best things in life take a little extra time.... waiting for homemade ice cream to churn and then freeze is ultimately more rewarding than anything you can eat out of a carton, Fiji Water, yes, you know the fancy water I'm talking about, tastes particularly fresh because it is tapped at the source after its journey from cloud to aquifer, and that ten year old friendship that's been cultivated over years is always going to mean more than the new acquaintance down the street. The same can be said about this beer-braised brisket served over cheesy polenta.

It's a two day process, beginning with a four hour cook in the oven, an overnight rest to soak up flavor, and a final reheat of the tender meat. The finished product melts in your mouth; the creamy polenta sops up all of the juices left behind and the caramelized onion jam takes the entire dish up a notch. This recipe is a labor of love, and one that deservedly tastes as such! Learn this lesson alongside of me; when you slow down enough to savor something, even at the expense of your supposedly valuable time, you gain perspective, patience, and, dare I say it, perfection!

For the recipe, and many other 'Perfection Takes Time' Recipes, head over to Fiji Water!

Baby Kevin, and cousins Eoin & Brecken measuring him up!

4. I have a new nephew! My sister-in-law Kate had Kevin Wain last Wednesday. He's perfectly healthy and perfectly gorgeous. Brecken is going to have her hands full with THREE boy cousins, all within one year of her age. I feel so fortunate to raise these kids alongside my wonderful sister and sisters-in-law!