Nothing brings me more peace than to go home, change into some comfortable clothes and get into the kitchen and cook. The aromas of spices, intermingling with different food as they saute, simmer, bake or boil sets my heart racing and brings a calmness to my soul that is unparalleled.
But I know that's not the case for everybody. Especially in today's day and age, when everybody is so busy and hectic, running this place and that place, doing this and that. If anything, cooking can be almost overwhelming to some people.
And that's why I'm here to help the best that I can. Food should be something that we love and enjoy; it should not be a stressful or overwhelming experience. I want you to fall in love with food, especially with healthy food, whether that's in your own home or when you go out to eat (which will be covered later).
So, let's get down to it: cooking. Here's the thing that I've learned about cooking - it should be a reflection of you. Cooking was instilled into my heart by my father. He loved to cook and try new foods and watch cooking shows with me all the time. As I got older and moved to Orlando for college, I learned how to cook more on my own. The first dish I learned to make and perfect was my now popular cinnamon-honey cornbread. For almost two years, people would ask me to make batches of it for potlucks and events. But I didn't want to ONLY be known for my cornbread, so I began expanding my skills by trying other simple dishes I saw my parents make growing up, like mashed potatoes, chicken wings, green beans, beef stew. The crockpot became a very close friend of mine throughout college. My friends knew that my apartment was the spot to go to for good food after church; we would be about two dozen deep in my apartment getting food.
After I graduated from college, I moved into my own apartment outside Ocala and began working full-time. With a new work schedule that kept me on my toes (my job wasn't exactly a 9-to-5 every day type of job), it was harder to cook as much, but I developed a deeper love for food by watching Food Network at lot at night. When I moved back to Orlando, I desired to take advantage of opportunities around me to get my health on track, which meant not only working out, but also eating right. As I learned different things to cook and eat for my health, I also began exploring the fun side of food by trying new recipes.
Now I'm not saying that I am a true expert on all things food, but I'm working on it. I'm constantly searching for new recipes or new ways to spice up or refresh my dishes. I'm always reading food blogs, following food pages on my social media, visiting different restaurants and food stores for inspiration.
And I'm hoping to spread this joy to you through my blog posts and recipes.
We About the Love of Food ... so, let's get out the pots and pans.
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