My Heart's Desire

+ I have always been into food since I was younger. Growing up in the country I learned how to cook at a young age simply because it always caught and held my interest. I used to watch my aunts and my grandma cook and I would take it all in. I was always intrigued by how you could throw any combonation of flavors together and how well they would work in harmony amd create something heart-warming and soul feeding. I started out just helping in the kitchen with meals, like stirring the potatoes or watch the meat ground as it cooked. I eventually started teaching myself to cook different small things starting when I was about 7. I enhanced my skills by watching those around me and quite frankly by what I felt was fulfiliing and delicious. My mom always told me I had a love for food, and that whenI was eating, it looked as though I was making love to my food. That comment forever changed how I viewed food. I felt it was more than just nourishment for the body, but rather a way to show your love for the people that you love, part of you giving your soul and passion, but on a plate. This is where not only was my passion and desire ignited, but it was how I knew that I wanted cooking to be a part of who I am.

Cooking defines a part of me that is like no other. It gives me a joy like no other. When I see loved ones or people alike eat my food, my creations, that is the kind of gratidtude and fortitude that simply makes me grateful. It inspires me to want to create more recipees and get creative. It makes me want to share the love and passion that I have for cooking food with the world. I am always looking for ways to impove my skills, whether it is learning new kniving skills on how to finely chiffonade fresh herbs or learning that cream of tartar is one heck of a stabilizer for homemade whipped cream. I adore all things food, which has inspired me to not only open a catering business, but to write my very first cookbook featuring recipes that I have created,tasted and tested on willing participants.

My parents always though that my passion would be in spmething in the scientific field, seeing as how all my life I have been a science nerd. And for a while, that is where i saw myself going. To be an anesthesiologist. Science always sang to my heart. I loved it, still do. But I also look at cooking food as a foirm of science. Just like you have to combine Sodium and Chlorine to get Sodium Chloride aka, table salt, it is the exact same thing with food. Call it Food Science! Combining separate and different ingredients together to create and harmonize a full meal is an exilirating feeling. Tkae pork chops, peaches, add brown sugar and whiskey, seasonings and a grill and now you have created a whole new flavor profile for a simple ordinary cut of meat. It can be done with anything. Cooking leads to so many endless possibilities and wonderful dishes. It is what keeps me going. It is more than a hobby, it is a way for me to express myself, relieve stress but most importantly as a way to express my love to those around me.

Cooking for me, is a way of life. Cooking is love. Cooking is happiness. Cookikng helps to nourish your body as well as your soul. Cokking is what makes me, me and I could not see my life without doing so. I just want to be remembered for my passion and love of cooking and how at age 5, it set my soul ablaze and I have never looked back.