One of the most unifying things that can bring people together is food. Whether going out for a nice dinner or spending a night at home with friends, food helps people connect. It is also delicious and is necessary to eat, so that doesn’t hurt things either. I have always loved cooking from a young age and it is something that has allowed me to bond with both family and friends. While I do enjoy going out to dinner, there is something so special about cooking to me.
When I think of cooking, I am thrown back into memories from my childhood – baking with aunts, holidays with lots of people and food, any type of activity to make a gather a party. This may have stemmed from my mom’s ability to entertain and cook for an army of people (40-50+ people holidays were very normal in my house, with my mom being the primary chef in play). Getting to help set up and prepare for parties (because everything in my house ended up being pretty much a party) was one of my favorite things to do as a kid.
As I got older, I started cooking more, mostly because I was in college and didn’t feel like going out to get my meals all the time (I have been a homebody for awhile). I also didn’t like the idea of spending a lot of money on food when I could spend less and eat better. Eventually, I started playing around with more and more recipes and developed my love of cooking.
There is something about cooking that can be so therapeutic. It can help you unwind after a long day, while also helping inspire your creativity with new recipes and changes, or help excite you with anticipation for guests. I have always been a big believer in the idea that you do not need a lot of stuff to cook – and that includes both cookware and ingredients. While you need some essentials to get started, and while some recipes require essential ingredients, generally once you get the base of a recipe down, there is TONS of room to play around with flavors and combinations. This mainly refers to cooking, not baking. Baking is a science and doesn’t like to be messed with too much.
Food is something I also bonded with my boyfriend over when we first started dating (and to this day still). It was a great way to spend time together – both cooking and then eating together. We both have a love of cooking and baking, so needless to say we spend a lot of time in the kitchen together or sharing recipes we want to try.
There is something about the act of cooking – when you get to create or watch the food you are about to eat being prepared and playing around with flavors or measurements – that I have always really loved. It is something that I end up doing with a lot of meaningful people in my life, which now gives me wonderful memories I get to keep forever.
Are you a home chef or do you struggle making toast? It is important to start small when trying out any new hobby, and food is no different. Start small and soon, you too can have a meal all of your own.
Ethos, Pothos, & Logos 