Many of us eat out for the majority of our meals. When we do come home, we peel the plastic packaging off something frozen and throw it in the microwave. We might make a salad or two for work lunches, and we might go so far as to boil pasta on the weekend, but it takes a special occasion like Thanksgiving to make us really cook. We don’t want to admit it, but we’re a little like that guy who ate scrambled eggs with ketchup in rolled up bread at college. Cooking just isn’t a priority to us. We eat some stuff. We’ve lost sight of the fact that cooking, at its finest, is an art.
There’s a saying that French women are never fat. (And, to be honest, it’s basically true.) When asked, French women explain their secret. They cook their own food, and they savor every bite. Apparently, when cooking is done with artistry, it inspires meditation. Meditation inspires real ingredients and healthy portions.
We, too, can learn to make cooking an art, and it’s a wonderful habit to get into. Cooking from scratch is a lot less expensive, and if we can only develop a passion for it, cooking could even be a way of bettering ourselves. The only problem is, sometimes cooking can be a pain. We can spend hours in the kitchen for mediocre results. We often cook not really sure what we’re doing, and complex recipes can result in disaster. In order to keep encouragement strong and discouragement at bay, there’s an order to passion-cooking that we should follow.
To start, make a list of foods you love. Once you have several options, find highly rated recipes online, and pick the foods you feel confident that you can make. Nothing too crazy to start. One dish at a time, make the meal. Put on your favorite music. Relax. Cooking is much more enjoyable when, instead of being rushed, we take time to smell the fresh basil, listen to the onions hissing in the pan. Make cooking an exercise in slowing down and being present, and you’ll probably find it deeply enjoyable.
Next, focus, on good ingredients. All meals taste better when prepared with the best stuff. That enjoyment is what will spur you on to future ventures, so be sure to make yourself good quality meals. Where to buy goat cheese, fresh vegetables, and good spices are all things you should know going forward. Likewise, getting the right tools make all the difference in the world. Some kitchen gadgets are a waste of time, but a good knife, cutting board, pans, and cooking utensils are all a must for easy cooking. If you bake as well, a cake turntable and piping bags will add to your enjoyment. Whenever possible, reduce stress in the kitchen.
Cooking and baking at home are a wonderful way to express yourself, slow down, and prepare meals you really enjoy. Start small and work your way forward. Happy chopping!
