the mindful cook

Recently A few months ago Michael Ruhlman challenged foodies to blog the reasons they cook. In a small way reading his and others’ posts inspired me to start this blog.  Until now, I had always just posted about my cooking and food exploits on my personal blog, but when I started to ask myself “Why do I cook?” the answers I was giving told me that I needed to become more focused on cooking.

I cook because it makes me a better person.

Each and every time I cook I gain knowledge.  I may learn about a new ingredient or technique.  In learning to appreciate how quality ingredients helped my cooking, I discovered the advantages of buying organic.  Paying attention and asking questions about the food I was purchasing, opened my eyes to the existence of factory-farming.  When I made up my mind to only purchase meat from farms where livestock had been humanely treated, I learned that this treatment greatly improved the quality. I could get this assurance by purchasing food grown and raised locally, from farmers I could see and talk to.

This chain of events continued as I was now purchasing locally, I began to learn growing seasons.  This meant I was buying food when it was at it’s best.  It also meant that I was buying fresh fruits and vegetables, not foods that had been so processed that very little nutrients remained.  I was eating food that was better for me.

When I pay attention to the food I am buying, preparing, and eating, it tastes better and I want to share it with others.  I want to create food that makes others happy, and this, I believe, makes me a better person.