My Infatuation with #CulinaryTherapy
Although I have very limited experience in the culinary field, food is very close to my heart. Food is a universal love language, an unspoken way of expressing your love and concern for another person’s well-being.
Growing up, I helped prepare family dinners which mainly consisted of me browning a pound of ground beef and adding the Hamburger Helper mixture to the pan.
It was only after the passing of both grandparents on my mother’s side that I truly understood the emotional connection I have with food. Some of my favorite childhood memories revolve around food like the frequent trips to Daiei (now Don Quijote) and Long’s Drugs with my Grandma Gloria. Or the quiet moments around the kitchen table enjoying a plate of food my Grandpa Ralph placed in front of me, even though I insisted I wasn’t hungry.
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I struggled with the loss of these two incredible humans who are the heart and soul of my being. During this emotional period, I lost my appetite for food and life.
One day while grocery shopping at Foodland, I had an insatiable urge to make one of my beloved childhood meals: spaghetti. And without a second thought, I raced around the grocery store filling my basket with fresh ingredients and rushed home to create this meal.
It was the first time in over a year, I experienced peace and happiness as I chopped carrots, diced tomatoes, sauteed onions, and browned grass-fed Big Island beef. As I prepped, cooked, and cleaned up, I felt parts of my former personality start to emerge.
Since then, I’ve researched countless blogs, studied cookbooks, and expanded my culinary comfort zones by baking from scratch, and experimenting with new recipes (I’ll even add my own personal touch to them).
And every moment spent choosing ingredients for my next dish, standing over the cutting board and stove, and sharing something I’ve made is when I feel closest to my grandparents. Baking and cooking have been instrumental in my ability to transform my grief into something meaningful; it’s also given me the delicious opportunity to express how much I love those dearest to me.
