I have this memory of me and my mom that always brings a smile to my face.
On Sunday afternoons we’d sit in the living room and watch Julia Child on TV. My mom would sometimes do an impersonation of Julia and it would just make me laugh and laugh… After the show was over we’d go to the kitchen ourselves and my mom would begin cooking. 
My mom is a fabulous cook; she can improvise with whatever is on hand. I love cooking like that – to me it’s far more adventurous than meal planning.
I have nothing against meal planning, and I’m all for organization, but when it comes to cooking, I like the creative freedom. Mommy taught me that. So whenever she invited me in to the kitchen to help her cook, I always felt so honored. She would give me simple tasks like adding the rice and water to the pot, or washing lettuce, or peeling potatoes.
But my favorite part about helping her in the kitchen was when we’d pretend we had our own cooking show, just like Julia Child. Mommy would tell me the backsplash behind the stove was the TV camera, and to make sure to look in to the camera. She’d narrate, step-by-step, exactly what she was doing. I’d usually just beam and standby in my position of sous chef, but occasionally I’d pipe up and tell the audience what I was up to.
My mom’s cooking often did that…left me speechless.
I’m sure it was those moments in my later childhood that planted a seed in me that would grow into a love of cooking, of feeling comfortable – even powerful, in the kitchen. It’s also probably why things like cilantro, arroz con gandules and whole baked cinnamon apples are all things I associate with my mom. The kitchen was a happy place, where rice cooked and onions sauteed and we laughed. In the kitchen I learned the importance of presentation – of plating your food in a way that made it even more appetizing than the tastes and smells did. I was 8 years old when I de-veined and butterflied my first shrimp. My mom was at work and I was at home on summer vacation. I saw a photo of it done and I set out to replicate it. My mom came home and told me that it was the most beautiful shrimp she’d ever seen; to this day she still remembers that, and it’s a proud accomplishment I’ll never forget.
In life I’ve seen how sharing a meal with someone can ease tensions, melt stress, open doors, invite trust and encourage laughter. I love cooking – alone, with family or with friends.
During my 10 plus years working as a nanny I always tried to get the kids involved in what was going on in the kitchen. Whether it was just dreaming up what they’d like to eat, or if it was actually hands on measuring and mixing. I even passed on to them the importance of presentation and how a smoothie looks way more yummy in a fun palm tree decorated glass than a plain one. I hope to someday teach the same skills and loves to my own children.
I thank my mom for instilling in me a love to cook at such a young age. While I have not always reveled in this passion, I’m sure enjoying it now. As a wife it is one of my favorite things to make a meal for my husband and watch him enjoy the labor of love that went in to it. I also love baking – especially a double batch so I have plenty to share with others. I love that my mom gave me a skill, a passion, a tool, an avenue to reach anyone…
Food is a universal language.
And so is love.
