Why cook when frozen pizza is basically gourmet?
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Weeding, harvesting, working the soil- we are always finding ourselves asking big questions while we farm. Meaning of life questions. Why is the world the way it is type questions.
We found a great answer to a big question…. Why do we cook?
For me, (Alyssa), if I have had a long day or a stressful week, I can always rely on baking cookies or cooking up a stew to put me at ease. Sometimes if I am lucky on my day off I can spend all day in the kitchen- no music, no talking, possibly not even eating. Just cooking. I’ve never really thought about WHY more work would actually make me feel better at the end of the day. But while reading “The Homemade Kitchen” by Alana Chernila, she brought up the question and gave an insightful answer.
Why do I cook?
”Not only do I get to eat what I’ve made, I also get to delight in my ability to create it. Small as the act might be, having the power to feed myself and my family makes me feel optimistic about my own resources to create what I want in life.”
To us, this is spot on. Cooking gives us confidence in our own abilities to survive and thrive.
She goes on:
”When I create what I want to eat, the simple task becomes the seed that empowers me to live the life I want, and to create that too. And when I cook and eat in a way that reflects how I want to live, it means I have the opportunity three times a day to make decisions that help me live that life. That’s why I cook.”
It’s a thought that explains the build up of how its feels when you haven’t cooked for awhile… It’s not just about how healthy or unhealthy you’ve been eating, it’s about taking those chances to practice creating. And this practice takes you back to the base, to check in with raw ingredients and learn their qualities. Fresh ingredients remind you of the dynamic nature of the world, how carrots taste sweeter in spring, and how a summer cucumber crunch can brighten your day. Touching base with the raw, practicing your ability to create, is humbling and empowering. Cooking with fresh ingredients grounds you in the present and its promise of change.
Why do you cook? If you have another reason to add please share with us we would love to hear from you!
