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Hello, again! How did your tomato toast turn out? I bet it was the BEST! Now that you’ve had the chance to learn about Eating Artfully and create the most bomb-ass tomato toast ever, it’s time to let you in on yet another fantastic realm of Black Fig Food. That realm is all about cooking mindfully.
When we find ourselves enjoying a beautifully cooked meal, we are in our happy place. We savor the flavors and textures of our food, all the while smiling and letting the worries of the day slide out. You did that with your tomato toast, didn’t you? I totally envisioned you dancing a little jig as you tasted your toast! Because guess what? Those moments are more intense when we are the ones behind the creation that rests on our plates! How awesome is the feeling of knowing, “I made this, and it’s fantastic!”? I’ll tell you how awesome it is! It’s pretty damn awesome! And it all begins with our mindfulness.
Mindfulness in the kitchen
To cook mindfully, we cannot be in a rush, and we cannot be distracted by thoughts from our day. Let that shit go, okay? My grandma used to say, “Worrying about things is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere.” Okay, I never even knew my grandma, but Irma Bombeck quotes are great, aren’t they? My point is this: cooking is THE best tool for us to wind down at the end of a long day and enjoy the process of creating, bonding, and connecting with our kitchen space and food. Adding a little music to our experience sure doesn’t hurt, either! For me, mindfulness in the kitchen looks like this.
Asparagus Scenario
Before I head into the kitchen to begin preparing Saturday night’s dinner, I make my way to the turntable and place the needle onto the groove. Just as I step across the threshold from the dining room into the kitchen, Steely Dan fills the atmosphere. I shimmy over to the sink to wash the asparagus. I admire its green shades and smile at the thought of the brighter color it will become after it’s blanched.
How will I honor the asparagus? Do I want it to show up as close to its original state as possible? Or do I want to adorn the dish with thin ribbons soaked in a marinade? Should I roll each sliver into a rosette for presentation? Or do I lightly sauté in grapeseed oil for a crispy texture? Maybe I serve it cold to contrast with the rest of my meal. As I go through these thoughts, my awareness turns to contentment for the dish I am creating. And my smiles add to a calming feeling.
Through this simple act of cooking asparagus, I tuned into happiness, improved my focus on what was in front of me and kept the day’s stressors at bay.
Approach To Cooking Mindfully
Keep your phone out of reach when cooking
Incoming texts, emails, or other notifications will distract you from being present and staying in the moment of cooking.
Be mindful of the ingredients you are using
Think about its texture, smell, taste, and how it was grown. How will you showcase the ingredient in your recipe? It helps to view them with a “beginner’s eyeglasses.” Look for new things you notice about them.
Stay connected to the process of cooking
Listen to your food as you slice, chop, boil, or sauté. That’s right; it’s having a conversation with you! Don’t think about that lady who cut you off in traffic on the way to the store. Think about how awesomely delicious the asparagus will taste with that fabulous rosemary loaf you purchased. And, try not to look at cooking as a chore, but as an opportunity to be creative!
Cooking Mindfully Is That Simple!
Once you try it for the first time, you will make a habit of anchoring your mind each time you cook. Your excitement to WANT to cook more often will grow by leaps and bounds. The physical senses and process of cooking will become second nature. And, before you know it, your mood changes from blah to BAM!
Actionable Step
I know we can’t always be in the mood to cook. There are evenings when all we want is take-away and a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Non-Dairy Cherry Garcia. We don’t need permission to have those days! Cooking mindfully is something to ease into slowly. Start by cooking at least three times a week. And, approach it with passion. You will find yourself cooking more and enjoying the hell out of it, I PROMISE!
