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Butter and Salt
Self Love in the Kitchen
Cooking and Love
I love to cook for friends and family. It’s one way I show that I care about them.
When I serve food for people I love, I try to create meals that are appealing to their senses. I want the food to smell and taste good, but I also want it to be visually appealing.
For example, when I had a garden, I grew everything necessary for colorful salads. I would pick fresh young mesclun leaves, add a sprinkle of fresh chocolate mint or dill or chives from my herb garden, chopped red bell pepper or grape tomatoes from the veggie patch, and then garnish with edible flowers. If herbs or lettuce were flowering, I would use some of these flowers, along with a sprinkling of nasturtium or viola petals. The resulting salad was not only nutritious, but also a feast for the eyes.
I always try to create beautiful plating when I serve meals, even if it’s something simple such as a desert of strawberries. I’ll macerate the strawberries in a bit of balsamic, slice them so I can spread them into fans, and serve them with a swirl of syrup and dots of cream.
Do I focus on nutrition? Absolutely, because I want the people I love to experience good health. But I also focus on flavor and beauty. I want all of their senses to be engaged.
