5 Reasons I Love Food as Much as I Do (& Why You Might Too!)
“The culture we have doesn’t make people feel good about themselves. We’re teaching the wrong things. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn’t work, don’t buy it.” – (excerpt fromTuesday’s With Morrie by Mitch Albom)
And just like this quote, if food’s not working for you & hitting right – don’t serve it.
That quote single-handedly summed up how I feel about family culture these days.
It just doesn’t work.
And society is teaching all the wrong things. (Or else, girl I’m just swirling around in the wrong mixing bowl.)
So let me remind you of an important tasty tidbit.
First we eat, then we do everything else.
M.F.K. fISHER
So when it comes to culture & especially family culture, we get to choose to change it.
Just by sharing a meal with them.
Feeding them good food.
Listening to their stories.
Making memories around the ordinary.
Whether it’s pairing up some odds & ends leftovers to make a fresh & hearty soup.
Or going the extra 5 miles to make insanely delicious & luxuriously comforting oxtail stew for dinner one day.
The time we spend together making & sharing XR meals of all sorts can reverse the stress, the pressure & the influence of the outside world.
But if that plot wasn’t thicker than a slice of mile-high pound cake here’s some more.
(Thai Shrimp Soup before ladling in the creamy, spicy broth)
5 Reasons to love food
1
Food is a universal language
You really don’t need anything else, anywhere else to connect with people.
And it doesn’t matter if you know their story or they know yours.
A steaming hot bowl of a slow simmered soup is enough to fill the void. 🍜
2
Food is a passport
I can really walk to the ends of the Earth with just my plate (& a good recipe, ofc)!
Every new spice, every saucy marinade is the invitation.
From a classic beef & rice dish (Japan) to umami chutneys on pizza (India) to salty & sweet tocino (cured meat) for breakfast (Philipines) – travel is limitless & that means experiences are too. ✈️
3
Food is beauty
(various chiles & spices)
Maybe because I’m an artsy type at heart, I love cooking, serving & eating food that looks as good as it smells.
I love creating with it. Coloring in pans with butter wrappers.
Creaming butter, sugar & eggs til they turn a glossy, pale but golden yellow.
Painting smokey, sticky-sweet BBQ sauce onto ribs with those lil baster brushes like Picasso.
Sprinkling a handful of deep green cilantro over homemade tacos. 🌮
4
Food is a memory time-capsule
Just about every dish I make brings back a memory. Whether it’s an ingredient or the whole meal, the eating or the cooking! Sometimes even a tool.
Making Shepherd’s Pie (one of my husband’s favorites) reminds me of the newlywed wife I was 10 yrs ago trying to make her husband’s favorites ahahahah
And now that I know how, you can learn how to make this sort of casserole ahead of time!
A simple PBJ reminds me of the story my mom tells of 4-yr old me making sandwiches for half-day kindergarten when I could barely see over the counter.
Now I watch my own not-quite 4-yr son helping at a counter he can barely see over without a stool. 🥹
5
Food is a teacher
It’s an everyday opportunity to teach & learn.
What I know today is the result of my lifetime’s love of really good food. (And Friday’s too).
Born from the natural curiosity as a child & wanting to cook. From loving to create & gift to others.
From an instinct deeeeeeeeeep down inside that said some version of “I should know how to do that.” Then finding books & YouTube channels to teach me.
Great food doesn’t happen all at once. It’s slow. Even if you rush it along with an Instant Pot.
And alllllllllll these things (plus all my cookbooks) are what I teach my tots (when they have attention to spare). ❤️
Practices, new ingredients, tips & hacks I share with my mom over the phone when we kick the bo-bo.
Food has even taken me into kitchens of other women around the world when they read what I post here online.
(My oldest daughter (age 2) helps me make apple chips)
Food has really touched every part of my life & hopefully you see the impact it can have in yours too.
So girl, if you’re not getting in your kitchen… you’re really missing out.
This blog is so enjoyable. You mix food, family life and, fun. A great combination. This is a gift and you are great with words just like your mom. Keep up the great work. Teaching the little peeps about food is again. Traveling the world with out leaving your home. Plenty frequent flyer miles. Much love.
<3 thank you so much! And we all love sharing it with our peeps up there too!