The joy of cooking

Today I want to write something about cooking, because it is something that I really begin to love over the last months and which gives me so much satisfaction! I have to admit that I've never been a great cook ;-) I did not have the pacience or the confidence to prepare something more challenging then pasta. I was too nervous and scared around boiling water and hot oil and although I would say that I am multitasking, just monitoring two different pans was way beyond my skills! But staying some time abroad, you have to learn how to cook or at least to try to take care of yourself  ;-) thats when I lost the fear of doing something wrong in the kitchen and learned how to prepare a meal. But I also have to admit that preparing something just for yourself isnt that amusing! So when I got back from Switzerland I really started cooking for me and my family. I always wanted to try so many recipes which seemed delicious but too time-consuming to me. But when I began to watch what I eat, I tried some easy and quick recipes and was so surprised, how easy it is to prepare something healthy and delicious! And nothing gives you so much satisfaction as a meal which was prepared by yourself! I also started to buy the ingredients with my mom and to accompany her every time. So everytime I cook something, I know exactly which ingredient I bought where and how much it cost.

But now something about the emotional part of cooking. :-) Eating makes me happy...it satisfies me in a way how only food can! But preparing it satisfies me even more! For me it is a very ruminant and sensual process.... cooking allows us to combine all our senses in one activity! For example when I prepare my favorite olive-oregano bread, I begin to sweat the onions and the whole room is full of that aromatic onion smell mixed with fresh olives and oregano spices! Hmmmmm.....you can hear how the onions are fizzling in the pan and the rhythmic sound of cutting the olives calms you down and clears your head! No joking! Doing it with my hands, it is the best time for me to think and relax! Then you combine all the different ingredients in one big bowl and you start to knead the mass until you have a smooth dough....great feeling! And then you put everything in the stove and watch it grow! Uhmmm...the room is full of the ensnaring smell of warm, fresh bread, how great is that!!

In fact I think that it is great if you can enjoy food and the process of preparing it! I like to eat concious and healthy, but I think the right balance is the most important thing! Why should I only eat salad when there are so many delicious cakes out there? I want to enjoy the whole range of food there is, because it would be just a waste to chasten yourself all the time if you can not savor some little sins! Like this fabulous chocolate cake with cerry jam that I prepared the other day! :-)

And I think Harriet Van Horne totally right: "Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all."