I was always a basic cook, never making anything fancy or complicated. My mother was the one who was more adventurous, making delicous meals for our family. She would try new recipes all the time and succeed. I would sometimes cook beside her and learn things along the way, like clean up as you go. Nothing worse than coming to the end of a long journey making a beautiful dish only to turn around and find your kitchen in disarray.
I remember my mother would cook something different every night for dinner. Many years later, after she passed away, I found myself in the kitchen yearning to be the chef she once was. Cooking, I found, was very meditative and therapeutic. So I scoured my cookbooks and bought many new ones and began my culinary adventure. Much to my family’s delight I made some tasty meals. Of course there were failures, but that is where you learn the most. Being an artist at heart, I was always wanting to add something or change some little part of a recipe. I found that baking was not meant for me right away as you have to be so precise. I preferred making dinners rather than desserts.
I am noticing these days that many young people do not know how to cook due to busy lives and never having the time to learn. I understand the impatience with needing everything right away, including food. I was once one of those busy people with no time to cook. Living in Los Angeles, there are so many healthy options for take out and even good prepared food available at markets. Not to mention our growing food scene with food trucks and super talented chef’s opening new restaurants all the time. It has rendered home cooking a lost art. Getting back to our roots in so many areas is important these days, and I place home cooking at the top of the list and here’s why.
How many times have we all asked that age old question, “What’s for dinner?” Which answer would you be more proud to say, I got take out or I made lasagna? Cooking for our families or friends is so satisfying. It does more than just simply put food on the table, it nourishes and provides warmth and love. It not only brings us closer to our families, it also brings us closer to our community. I make weekly forays to my local farmers market and support my farmers. I wander and find something new everytime. Buying locally grown, organic food is the healthiest way to eat and reduces environmental impact. Cooking is about slowing down and disconnecting for awhile so that you can reconnect with family and yourself. I recommend turning up some good music when cooking and don’t rush the process or your food will suffer for it. This image above was from a recipe given to me by a friend. I would never have imagined being able to cook this complicated of a dish. But with patience and care I accomplished it, and it was delicious beyond words.
I have been re-evaluating my goals as a photographer and social media influencer. I am a fine art photographer first and formost. In addition to my fine art photography, when I began my Instagram @kthkitchen a little over a year ago, I posted some of the recipes I had made to show my food photography skills. I have had requests to include more photographs and text of the process I go through to create each dish. I would like to begin doing that in the hopes of inspiring people to not only eat healthy and organic food but to begin cooking at home. It is fun and simple and only complicated if you make it so. Then you can answer that age old question, “what’s for dinner” with pride and time well spent in the kitchen.