About
Hi, my name is John Moore. When I became a full-time single parent I had two big questions. One – What can I do to make sure my kids don’t become another negative single parent household statistic and instead have happy, memorable, and successful lives and Two – What’s one thing I can do that really says family? In answering the second question One Moore Kitchen was born. Having Dinner together as a family did more than I could have ever imagined. Not just for us as a family but for each of us as individuals. The world of food is amazing! It not only gives us something we connect on but also something we can connect with others on. The best recipe I’ve ever found has just three ingredients. They are Great food, Great conversation and Great music. This recipe is the foundation of One Moore Kitchen. If you’re not currently eating together as a family, I challenge you to start your own dining experience in your home. Twice a week will do wonders for all of you.
Why
– The dining table gives everybody around it a captive audience. Sitting around a room limits the natural connection that a table gives you.
– Every day I would call my sons when they got out of school. Two questions I always ask were, “How was your day?” they would say, “Fine”. Then I would ask, “What did you do?”, They would say, “Nothing”. Then by the time we ate dinner. they had had time to decompress, I would ask the same questions and the information would come pouring out. Kids are just like us, in that, when we get home after work, the last thing we want to talk about is the place we just left.
– Dining together was a great way for us to build new and strengthen existing connections.
– Dining together gave me insight into all the details of my kids lives, in a very relaxed atmosphere. (I didn’t have to grill then about anything.)
– Dining together provided lots of teaching moments. Again, because it was a comfortable relaxed atmosphere.
– Lastly, it builds memories. It also provided structure. Something they could depend on. No matter what else happened that day, they knew, One Moore Kitchen would be here.
How
Planning is the key. I have lived almost every excuse I have heard. It can be done.
Next – Cook a great meal. Stick with simple and elegant. Present it on the plate. (You eat with your eyes first) Dinner should be an event, not necessarily grand, but an event.
Next – Conversation. You can talk about anything. I started with how was your day, what did you do? In the beginning you may have to be probing. It will come. Then I moved on to their activities, things they were interested in. I treated it the same as if I where eating with friends.
Next – Music in the background. The type you would here in a nice restaurant
Lastly, not every meal was at the dining room table. Some where at the coffee table. (Ballgame, etc) Pizza but still Garnished. (Their request)
FAQ
Where did the name One Moore Kitchen come from? One Moore Kitchen was the name of our menu. I got the idea from a film maker who had one in his house. Basically, it’s a list of dishes someone could cook at a moments notice. I told the kids about it and they loved the idea, so we did it.
Did you cook Dinner every night? I cooked about 90% of the time. Sometimes we were not home and sometimes we ate out.
Are all your meals fancy? If by fancy you mean, complicated or hard to cook, then no. They were, however, always presented on the plate. We all eat with our eyes first and it makes it more of an event.
Have you ever cooked a bad meal? Yes. It was a Scandinavian dish. It was bad and they still remind me of it.
What do you want people to get from One Moore Kitchen? I want people to understand the importance of eating together as a family. You don’t have to be a great chef or cook compicated meals. I think everybody strives for a good life, and it can all start at the Dinner table with your family. The “Good Life” is filled with good food, good music and great conversation. This is a great way to build great memories and tradition with your family.
Contact
john@onemoorekitchen.com