A TASTE OF MY HEART
I know it’s a cliché, but I strongly believe that the kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s cheesy… I’m well aware. I’m a cheesy person after all, so you’ll see that a lot on this blog (And I do mean in the figurative sense; although, cheese is one of my all-time favorite ingredients, so expect to see it in my recipes a lot too).
My mom was the first person in my life to show me how to love through food. She was a passionate home cook and and an even more passionate mom. Which is why it’s only fitting that my first, official post on this blog be on Mother’s Day, as a tribute to her - the woman who taught me not only how to cook, but how to love.
Many of you may already be aware of the 5 love languages: Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Gifts, Quality Time, and Physical Touch. But what you may not know, is that there is actually a 6th love language - at least there is in my family. Food is our main love language. My mom, dad, brother and I ALL share a strong love of cooking, and so do many of our other family members (I guess you could say it’s in our blood). We love to cook with each other, for each other, and even in memory of each other. But even if it doesn’t always involve us cooking ourselves, food - no matter who cooked it - has become a major part of how we give and receive love.
My mom was the epitome of someone who showed love through food. She used our favorite foods to cheer us up after hard days, to celebrate big milestones, and sometimes just to show us that she was thinking of us on a random Tuesday after work. I frequently received care packages from her throughout college with homemade pretzels and cookies. And she never failed to stock the pantry or whip up some of my favorite dishes for my trips home. Even if it was only for 1-2 hours, she always made sure she had something edible to give me. My brother and I never went a birthday without an elaborate, homemade cake; and we rarely were treated to frozen, store-bought waffles or traditional round pancakes. No, in our house, we had homemade waffles with fresh vanilla, and pancakes shaped like hearts, animals, or even our initials. It seemed like overkill to some people (and even did to me at times), but I quickly grew to learn that that was just her primary way of showing us love — way more than hugs, cards, or gifts (even though she couldn’t help but give us those too). Her main love language was food. And over time it became mine too. So much so that after she passed, it became my favorite way to stay connected with her.
To this day, my favorite recipes are my mom’s recipes. Not because they were always the most groundbreaking culinary inventions (although she did have a lot of those), but because they continued to hold so much meaning for me even after she passed. They’re my direct landline to HER. Recipes are like photo albums that never fade. They tell stories, and remind us of special memories, and allow us to reflect back on times with important loved ones. But unlike photos, they can be re-created - time and time again - without ever losing their impact. Every time I make my mom’s famous spaghetti meat sauce, it’s like I’m spending time with her again. And I look forward to the time that I get to share recipes of hers, just like that one, with other loved ones - whether they’re friends or my future kids. Food isn’t just how I remember my mom; it’s how I connect with her. It’s how I get to continue to learn more about her and her passions even when she’s not here to tell me herself. And it’s how I get to introduce her to people that never had the pleasure of knowing the amazing woman she was. And THAT is why I love cooking so much. It’s one of the best ways to time travel! Who needs real time travel when you have a good sauté pan and a chef’s knife?? You can take your favorite parts of your past and re-create them in your future with anyone and everyone.
Cooking allows me to carry on my mom’s legacy of spreading love through food, and I’m excited to do that with YOU. This isn’t just a blog about cooking. It’s about vulnerability, expression, courage, and tapping into the 6th love language - food.
I’m honored for you all to join me on this journey, and I’m thrilled to share a taste of my heart.
