Master Who?

Four nights a week we are the captive audience of MasterChef Australia.  It's about the food and the passion.  It's about the contestant's journey and the scrutiny of the judges.  It's better than watching the home renovating program, which makes me cringe. Home renovation is so much worse than medicine and best avoided at all cost! 
I fantasize of creating a Marco Pierre White gourmet delight in my very own kitchen.  It is unlikely to ever happen.  I am sticking to the tried and true Shepherds Pie and Sausage Hot Pot followed by slightly caramelized pancakes with rustic edges.  A little like burnt offerings.  
Now we are empty nesters our weekly menu is more geared to whatever is in the fridge or pantry but mainly depends on how much energy I have to create.  A tin of soup often come up trumps. 
If the kids give me enough notice they are visiting at meal times I will scour the recipe books aiming for something amazing to create and whip up in my small but efficient kitchen.  Shopping for the ingredients is a major event. I begin with an elaborate list of, 'must haves' and other bits just in case they are needed.  What if they are still hungry? 
Preparation and cooking time are carefully planned and scheduled and then the fun begins.  There are pots, pans, cooking utensils of every description which clutter up the bench tops and overflow on the kitchen table.  There is mess everywhere with no room in the sink and the dishwasher grunting in protest.  Thank goodness for the dishwasher!  The family meal is cooked and ready.  The dishes stacked and the benches cleaned. 
Is it a Heston Blumenthal or even comparable to a Kylie Kwong?  Not likely!  It is just good home cooking with a fancy name fit for the table to show my family I love them.