It’s our wedding anniversary this week. Four years ago I stood at the top of an aisle in a converted barn in Suffolk declaring to the world that I had chosen the fellow weirdo who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
And being the modern man that I am I was all over the preparations for that big day (closely monitored by Mrs S of course). I painted jars with modge podge. I trimmed, cut and folded save the dates. I picked out centre pieces. I asked absolutely zero questions about the large volume of DIY crafting that was going on or the amount of glitter I had accumulated in my beard. But the best part, unmistakably… was choosing the wedding breakfast.
The food was quintessentially the paramount of importance for our nuptial preparations. We had been to enough weddings where we stood around starving, ready to pounce on the poor 15 year old sod carrying a tray of cold, sad looking mini Yorkshire puds, or a single piece of dry chicken on a stick. We were both in agreement that in fact vol au vents are a bloody rip off. So much so in fact, that Mrs S spent weeks hand making enough heart shape sugar and cheese cookies to feed an army and hung them from Christmas trees at our winter themed wedding to get around the, “if we don’t feed them they will be blotto by dinner time” conundrum. The sweet and savoury cookies went down a storm and cost us peanuts. Well, peanuts and the best part of Mrs S’ sanity.
When we met Helen and Justin Cain from the Movable Feast based in Suffolk, we knew they were the caterers for us. And we got to taste A LOT of amazing food in their purpose made kitchen located next to their home. Armed with a nice glass of wine we chatted about our friendly, hearty and homely approach to food. They guided us to have food stalls located across the dining room serving our own favourite foods; goat curry, chicken fajitas and fish and chips all served in bowled portions for our guests to get off their arses and help themselves to. It certainly had the conversation flowing.
If I was to describe our wedding, it was one shade off an episode of shameless. From my father in law getting up and doing a duet with our paid singer to having a live rendition of the Foo Fighters for our first dance. Then there was the fact that we insisted on cutting the cake with a sword and having a choice of three wedding cakes for dessert; a traditional sponge, a tower of cheese and a three tier pork pie.
If the definition of a “foodies” coined from it’s first use in 1980 is true, then it is surely safe to say that myself and the missus succumb to this definition;
A foodie is a person who has an ardent or refined interest in food and who eats food not out of hunger but due to their interest or hobby.
I actually can’t imagine not being married to a foodie. Our love for food has evolved alongside our marriage. A lot of couples may enjoy their date night in a lovely restaurant whereas me and the Mrs are most happy inventing a new recipe, tinkering and tampering with ingredients making it healthy or making it lavish depending on our needs at the time. Don’t get me wrong, it has its ups and downs. I have been in the vicinity to witness the Mrs throw an entire burnt cornbread at the wall and she has watched me reduced to a near breakdown over my timing of a beef joint, but it’s definitely worth the effort on the many occasions when we nail a new recipe together. They’re all just memories we are compiling in the big old cook book we call married life.
STILL AS DASHING AS MY WEDDING DAY. AND SHE AINT BAD EITHER.
Four years is essentially still a newlywed in the grand scheme of things, but that isn’t to say that I haven’t learnt a thing or two on the tips for a happy marriage. To any of you who are preparing to take the leap, here is what I have learnt so far…
Marriage tip #1: There is a VERY good reason why the saying “happy wife, happy life” exists. Pay attention.
Marriage tip #2: Your spouse will never pick a fight with you whilst you’re cleaning.
Marriage tip # 3: cook a bit extra of the food your spouse insists they wont eat as they will DEFINITELY want to be picking at that from your plate. Mrs S insists when she does this these are my calories and not hers, so it’s ok.
Marriage tip #4: Hold your spouse’s hand whilst out shopping. They will think it’s romantic, it’s actually just economics.
Marriage tip #5: whenever you’re wrong, admit it, whenever you’re right, shut up.
Marriage tip #6: and I can’t take credit for this one, it was actually a tip from a child, but an absolute legend
FABULOUS
Always happy to hear from you all about your own tips on marriage and food, leave a comment or hit me up on social media. But until then, CHEERS y’all and here’s some new recipes for you.
HOT SMOKED MUD SAUCE SALMON
FRUIT AND FLOWERS LOVE CAKE
FRENCH BAGUETTES
Well done Mr and Mrs Shack another great enjoyable hilarious read oh and iv tried the mud salmon it’s deliciously Devine!!