My love of cooking started when I was eight months pregnant with Olivia. I stayed home with Owen that last month before she was born, so we could really cherish those last few weeks with him as an only child. Nesting mode was in high gear and there was nothing more I wanted than to provide a deliciously comforting meal for my family.
Cooking is like therapy. I like to flip through the pages of cook books, planning meals days prior. I review the ingredients to any recipe like a check list and get excited to add new seasonings to my pantry. Usually, if I have to buy something in a larger amount, let’s say the recipe calls for two tablespoons chopped parsley, where I end up having to buy a big bunch, I’ll check out other recipes that call for parsley and try to work those into our menu so little goes to waste.
When it comes time to cook, I like to pour myself a glass of wine and thoughtfully prepare my ingredients portioning them out. I’ll read each step over and over again like I’m studying for a test. Then I’ll review the ingredients again and again to ensure I didn’t forget something and everything’s measured out correctly.
When it comes to selecting recipes, I take into consideration the other meals we’ve planned for the week. If you’re like us, we tend to stick to our basics that take little to no thinking. The meals we cook week after week like tacos, pizza or artichokes. You know the quick and easy.
But now that we’re spending more time at home, I’ve gravitated towards recipes of comfort like Joanna Gaine’s Chicken Spaghetti from her cook book Magnolia Table, (vol. 1) which we’ll be trying out tonight.
If you’re looking for some feel good food that’s sure to hit the spot, I’d recommend trying the Tomato Basil Soup, which is perfect for the cooler weather we’re currently experiencing in Houston.
I like to get lost in the beautiful pictures of table settings with meals that have been perfected and captured in a way I may never achieve the appearance of. But, it’s all about the taste and the experience. The process of getting lost in the preparation. I enjoying filling my family’s tummies, even if I have to tell a little white lie by changing the name of the meal in order to convince Owen we’re having “pizza soup” so he’ll actually eat it.
Right now is the perfect time to experience making a home cooked meal. I’ve planed on creating some myself from restaurants and regions I dream of visiting while stuck in isolation. It’s like the experience can transport you by bringing the meal to you, by you. Like the Macaroni & Cheese from SoHo House’s Eat Drink Nap or the Wise Guy Chicken from Mimi Thorisson’s French Country Cooking. Have some fun, pour yourself a glass of wine and don’t take it so seriously. No matter how you’re spending this time at home, I hope you do something that feeds your soul.
Books in my collection:
Thanks for stopping by.
xx,
Kat
