The Joy of Food
2024-02-02
To many, food is nothing but a way of sustaining themselves from day to day. At best, they see it as something that can provide a little pleasure when it's cooked well, but it's ultimately still an afterthought. And for many, that mindset works for them for their entire life - they don't ever experience the emotional depth of a meal that can touch the soul, but because they don't, they aren't missing out on anything. It's their way to live and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
However.
I take a different view to food. From a young age, younger than I can actually remember, my life was constantly building associations with food and meals, from planting to plating. I was a young bear that spent substantial parts of summers with my grandmother, a lovely woman who took me and showed me how to plant the seeds, how to care for them over the season as they sprouted and grew up into beautiful and delicious ingredients that she then showed me how to prepare and serve. Those hours were some of the best of my life where grammy talked to me about everything in life - teaching lessons that I carry with me to this day. But because of that, I have a more complex relationship with the land and the food we produce from it.
A small faerie bear sniffing a flower.
(By: Cadmium Tea)
The Earth is precious and deserves protection. She is what gives us all the gift of life; without her, we have nothing. My grandmother taught me that lesson with an emphasis on stewardship of the land to offer something back to the Earth in return. And I think that ultimately that is the key to being able to experience the depth of good, quality food that's prepared with love. When you are able to think about all the stages of what makes up your plate, you are able to feel that connection with the Earth and her flora and fauna. And it's that connection that can resonate with something in your own soul, pulling out memories, thoughts, and emotions that are their own seasoning to your meal. That seasoning is what unlocks food as more than just nourishment - it becomes a constant harmony in your life that you look to be of the highest quality.
Where does the joy come from? Well, that's simple - it comes from the connections with the good memories and emotions. Have you ever had a warm cup of coffee in the morning, a bowl of chicken soup just like grandma used to make, or perhaps just that perfect slice of pie that you always used to have playing with your friends growing up? That's where the joy comes from - and it can start at any age. Even if your childhood was poor you can still build these connections as an adult. Start a routine where you have a certain drink, or meal, with something you find pleasant. Take five minutes out of your day to find a quiet place to reflect and listen to music, or to spice up your evening with a delicious homemade spicy snack! When you're done, make sure you deliberately note how nice that makes you feel to reinforce it in your mind. And sooner than you think you'll start building up the associations that eventually unlock the ability to dig out those positive emotions when you're in a place where you otherwise might not be able to.
Like everything in life, finding the joy in food takes time. Understanding and making the connections is a life long process, but if you engage in it, I promise you that it will be worth the time and effort. And to encourage this, I am going to offer a simple recipe below for what I would venture to call a perfect baked potato - a cornerstone side dish or even a low-hunger meal. This is very versatile with pairing as well once you are ready, going with anything from steak to pork to fish - or even delicious vegetarian dishes!
Ingredients:
* 1 medium baking (russet) potato
* 1 teaspoon of olive oil
* 1/2 teaspoon of salt
* 2 teaspoons of butter
* 1 pinch of freshly ground black pepper
* 1 dollop of sour cream
* 1/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
Directions:
* Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Scrub the potato, and pierce the skin several times with a knife or fork. Rub the skin with olive oil, then with salt.
* Place the potato in the preheated oven and bake until slightly soft and golden brown. This will take about 90 minutes. Slice the potato down the center, and serve with butter and black pepper.
* Optional: Add sour cream and sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top.
I hope you enjoy the beginning of your journey through finding the joy that can come with something delicious and that you are able to grow into a world where a bite of something truly delicious can teleport you into the same headspace it does for me - a magical, comforting, beautiful world.