Attitude

I have always been very interested in food, cooking, and helping to cook meals while growing up in my household. Ever since I was a young girl, I always wanted to help my dad as he would bake his famous chocolate chip cookies. He has been baking them since 1994, and are commonly known by all of our family and friends as “the best cookie they have ever eaten.” I have attached some pictures to show everyone just how amazing they look, nevermind how they taste. I would stand on a step stool and ask him questions as he baked. As I grew older, I became more curious about the dinners my mom would cook. I was astounded that she had such a large collection of recipes, which she had collected over time from friends and family, specifically my grandmother.

            With my interest in food and cooking growing, I started to cook my own meals. When I went to college and had to live alone for the first time in my life, I slowly began to acquire new recipe knowledge and learn how to create new dishes. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, I simultaneously became interested in nutrition and health at the same time that I was living on my own. This became difficult, as healthier foods tend to be more expensive to buy and I was living off a college budget. I was able to find food items that fit my needs and also tasted good, which was important to me. With my history of cooking as a family, I had happy memories surrounding cooking. I have always enjoyed cooking, even if I was only cooking for one. While some people were “too lazy” to cook and decided to order take-out, I never minded spending some time in the kitchen in order to enjoy a healthy, homemade dinner. Cooking for others is another activity I have always been fond of. There is nothing better than having a guest proclaim how delicious the food tastes. My favorite reaction is when I cook a healthy meal for someone who typically does not enjoy vegetables or other health conscious food items, yet ends up absolutely loving the dish. My goal is to be able to convince as many people as I can that healthy eating can be just as enjoyable, if not more, than having a slice of pizza.  See below for some pictures of meals I have cooked and eaten in the past!