Life Lessons in the Kitchen!

My Dad, the man that taught me to cook and so much more!

When I was growing up time spent in the kitchen with my Dad was like going out and tossing the ball around! The kitchen is our special place.  That place where my Dad and I completely connect. I have so many great memories of cooking with my Dad.  One of the best memories was weekend mornings at our cabin.

My family back in the day!

As the youngest of four kids, with the closet sibling in age 9 years older then me, it wasn't uncommon for me to be the first kid up in the morning.  This worked to my advantage as my Dad was also an earlier riser.  So, by waking up early, I would get to spend some quality time with him in the kitchen.  He not only gave me his undivided attention, but also taught me his love of cooking.  On those weekend morning we would get the griddle out, start frying bacon and mix up his very special pancake recipe!   My Dad's pancakes were, and still are, the best around! 

As a child, I remember thinking how magical my Dad's cooking was, especially the pancakes!  I soon learned that making delicious food is not magical, but fun, relaxing, and filled to the brim with love!  My Dad taught me how to make cookies, cakes, breakfast, stir fry, you name it he either taught me how to make it or supplied me with the tools I needed to figure it out!  He not only taught me to cook, but canning as well.  We would can pickles, tomatoes, jelly, and jams.  Dad taught me so many great lessons in our kitchen.  He taught me patience, perseverance, the importance of working as a team, and the taste of love! 

Dad & I cooking Thanksgiving Dinner!

It is amazing to me how adding a dash of love to everything you do can make whatever it is extra special.  There have been days when cooking meals I have been mad or just disinterested and on those days I can pretty much guarantee that I forgot to add that little dash of love.  Granted sometimes I get lucky and the meal still manages to turn out passable, but I am finding that if I don't take the time to recharge my cooking mojo, the dash of love can come up missing in my cooking.  I mentioned this to some of my friends and one of them, who is an ex-culinary instructor and former culinary tutor of mine, said that this happens to the best of chefs.  We spend so much time in life cooking and eating that we can get burned out.  He suggested that I try a new cuisine or something very traditional to help recharge.  So, tonight I am taking his advice, I am going to make this Mexican meal that includes a taco sauce that took me about 3 years to perfect.  I will get my cooking mojo back.  I also plan on seeing my Dad and getting into the kitchen with him.  That quality time with him helps me remember where my love of cooking is from and recharges the mojo! 

In the end the kitchen, food, and cooking is not the only place that a dash of love can make so much of a difference!  It is amazing the lessons that can be learned in the kitchen, lessons that go beyond the kitchen, lessons that I plan on passing on to my children!  It is possible that they won't all like cooking as much as my Dad and I do, but the lessons learned in the process and wonderful memories made can touch your life long after the meal has been eaten!



So don't forget to add that dash of love to your cooking, your life, and all you do, it can take any meal or event up a notch!

Grubs on!  - Kim