My Own Therapy

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve really delved into cooking at home. I cooked before, and a sure as heck baked before, but now I’m really getting into the whole process. It’s so satisfying.

In a way, it’s become a kind of therapy. It’s been a horrifically stressful week, and as the days wear on, I’m becoming increasingly dissatisfied with my “career” or lack thereof. The nights I’ve gone home and really cooked something, I’ve actually felt quite a bit of joy. It’s not necessarily that I want to eat everything I cook (I leave that for Patrick, the human vacuum, with the metabolism of a jack rabbit); it’s the act of creating something that people love. I love that.

I sound like a self-help book. “Find Yourself With a Hobby” or “Happiness is Just a Whisk Away!”

It’s just in this world that is filled to the brim with frustration and anxiety (this time of year in college publishing is off the chain), I can find control and peace in my kitchen. I love that. I love how it’s like my own little world. There is so much I need to learn, even though I have been told that I’m a great cook. I’m a terrible chopper. I’ve yet to make a successful meatloaf, and I’m not sure if it’s me, or the two recipes I’ve tried so far. I also need lots of kitchen tools. Thankfully my birthday is coming up next month (I’ll be 27 on October 26th!), so you can bet your sweet bippy I updated my wishlist to reflect my culinary needs, heh.

Tonight I’m planning on making a lemon, asparagus, and goat cheese pasta dish from Smitten Kitchen, and I’m really excited about that. It’s barely after 12pm, and it’s already been a blah day. This weekend I’m making my own pizza at home, with from scratch roasted garlic sauce.

And last night? I made this really easy polenta dish. Originally last night was going to be pizza night, but tragedy struck in the form of Comcast ineptitude. Thankfully that was squared away, but it took quite a bit out of me (well, both of us), and my cooking mojo withered. In any event, the polenta dish was fantastic.  Polenta, spinach, a tomato sauce brimming with herbs and onions, and topped with a layer of mozzarella cheese.  Such good comfort food, and it was so easy to make.

I’m going to spend today searching for recipes to try, and maybe a few cooking classes.  It’s nice to be really excited about something.  I’m excited about a lot of things, but it’s nice to have a little something that’s just for me, but at the same time is something that I get to share with others, if that makes any sense.