By We wrote the age-nine letter for Nora this week. It was short — 290 words. Sean was tired. He said what he could say. He said "Nora. If you are reading this, you are nine. I hope you are reading chapter books." He said "I hope you have a best friend." He said "I hope you take after your mother." He signed "Love, Dad." I typed. I saved it.
Twelve letters for Liam. Seven for Nora. Twelve more for each to write, at least. I am not going to say out loud that we may not get all of them. We will write as many as we can. Whatever is there when he is done is what will be passed on.
Liam asked Wednesday if he could help make grilled cheese. I said yes. I pulled the stool over to the stove. I let him butter the bread. I let him put the cheese on. I did the pan for him. I turned the heat down. I let him put the sandwich in the pan. I let him watch it until the butter turned golden. I showed him the spatula. I said "the flip is the scary part. You have to be confident." He nodded. He picked up the spatula. He slid it under the sandwich. He flipped it. It landed correctly in the pan. He said "Mommy I flipped it." I said "you flipped it." He said "I want to show Daddy." I said "let's put it on a plate and show him." We plated it. We cut it diagonally. We carried it upstairs.
Sean was in bed, awake, reading a magazine. Liam said "Daddy I flipped a grilled cheese." Sean set the magazine down. He said "you did?" Liam said "yes. Mommy helped but I flipped it." Sean said "show me the cook." Liam held up the plate. Sean looked at the sandwich. He said "that is a beautifully flipped grilled cheese, Buddy. You are a cook." Liam said "I know." He was beaming. Sean said "can I have a bite." Liam said "yes." He broke off a corner. Sean took it. Sean ate it. Sean chewed slowly. Sean said "the best grilled cheese of my life." Liam said "okay, Daddy." He took the plate downstairs. He ate the rest of it at the kitchen table. He ate every bite. I have a feeling he will remember that flip for the rest of his life. I am sure of it.
Sean said to me later, quietly, "Kate. Teach him to cook. All of it. Teach him everything you know." I said "I will, Sean. I promise." He said "the pancakes. Teach him the pancakes." I said "when he is old enough. I will teach him the pancakes. I will teach him Mom's soda bread. I will teach him everything." He said "okay." He slept.
Nora ate a piece of plain bread with butter at lunch and declared it "good bread." She has started using adjectives. Good bread. Red apple. Big Mommy. Small Daddy. Her descriptors are expanding.
Sean asked me to teach Liam everything — the pancakes, the soda bread, all of it — and I keep thinking about where you start. You start where we started: at the stove, with butter, with a spatula, with something simple and good. Grilled sweet onions are exactly that kind of recipe — low stakes, forgiving, and deeply satisfying. They’re the kind of thing Liam can watch and help with, the kind of thing that smells like a real kitchen, and the kind of thing I want him to know how to make when he’s grown and cooking for someone he loves.
Grilled Sweet Onions
Prep Time: 10 min | Cook Time: 20 min | Total Time: 30 min | Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 2 large sweet onions (such as Vidalia), sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (optional)
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar (optional, for finishing)
Instructions
- Preheat the grill. Heat a gas or charcoal grill to medium heat, around 375—400°F. If using a grill pan indoors, heat it over medium until hot.
- Prep the onions. Slice onions into 1/2-inch rounds, keeping the rings together. Brush both sides generously with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Grill the first side. Place onion rounds directly on the grill grates. Cook undisturbed for 8—10 minutes, until deep golden grill marks form and the edges begin to soften.
- Flip with confidence. Use a wide spatula to carefully flip each round. Cook for another 8—10 minutes, until tender throughout and caramelized on both sides.
- Finish and serve. Transfer to a plate. Scatter fresh thyme over the top and drizzle with balsamic vinegar if using. Serve warm alongside grilled meats, sandwiches, or on their own.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 95 | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Carbs: 9g | Fiber: 1g | Sodium: 150mg