The Emotional Healing Power of Cooking!

Throughout my life, I have greatly loved two things: food and music! We all know the healing power of music, and I can say, that I am finally getting back into it full force! I am using music to help me through difficult times in my life, and happy ones too! This Christmas Season, Christmas Music has been my mainstay.

But, there's something else I find incredibly healing as well: food.

Yes, we all know that food that is nutritionally balanced is good for us, and I honestly believe that nearly half of the diseases in America could be fixed with food. (i.e. Better Diet)

I was spoiled rotten when I was growing up by a 1,500 square foot garden. I kid you not. If it could be grown in Reno, Nevada, my mother grew it. That is where my love of fresh vegetables comes from, and why I have no problem scarfing them down today. I truly believe that that huge garden with everything from peas and corn to tomatoes and carrots in it--played a definite role in the healthy eating habbits I have today.

I was also spoiled by a grandmother who made most everything from scratch. Pie crust, pies, muffins, cookies, cakes, biscotti--you name it--she made it!

Now, I carry on the tradition.

Okay, I'm not such a fan of baking, but I'm working on it, and when I do bake, I'm not terrible at it. I'm sure I'll improve over the years.

What I'm talking about though, is the healing power of food through the senses.

Last night, I'd had a rough day--it was a great day in many respects, but a rough day in others.

So, instead of feeling sorry myself and going hungry last night, I got up and made myself dinner. This isn't unusual for me, as I usually am the one who cooks in my household. My mother spent years on end making three meals a day, so I really can't blame her for not wanting to cook too often these days.

When I started cooking my dinner last night, I was very upset. I was irritated and pesky. But, as I got into the cooking of my food--I instantly calmed down. My heart rate lowered, I stood a little straighter, and I breathed a little better.

Suddenly, it was all about chopping the broccoli properly, and dicing the onions the correct size. Then, I was rummaging through my fridge thinking about what I would do with the brocoli and onions--completely unaware of whatever my earlier problem was.

I decided to take the broccoli and the onions, and some green beans--and sautee the up with garlic, butter, parprika, salt and pepper. Then it dawned on me that I had some green beans to use up--so I chopped those up and threw them in the pan. Then, I decided that this vegetable satuee needed to savory, so I grabbed some tomato paste from my pantry and added that in. But, I needed something to thin it out, and now that the veggies had gotten a little color on them--I decided to throw in some white wine. After I let the alachol cook out from the wine (Chardonay) I tasted it--adjusted my seasonings (it just needed more salt and pepper) and thought to myself "mm, it's missing something". So I went back to the fridge--and grabbed the Soy Sauce. "Just a splash!" I thought to myself, "Just a splash!" I was hoping and praying that the soy sauce would be the right thing and wouldn't end up ruining the dish. I said a prayer and added the soy sauce. I let it cook down for a minute and fully incoorperate--and viola--my dish was done! It was savory, delicious, with a depth of flavor and that Soy Sauce--it definitely "made" the dish entirely!

I was so proud! I had made something worth eating! Don't get me wrong, I make a lot of things worth eating. But, as I poured the veggie sautee into a bowl, it occurred to me that I couldn't remember what I was upset about before. I honestly could not remember.

And then it hit me "food heals!" Sure, a vegetable sautee is quite good for you, nutritionally speaking, and more veggies are always a good thing--for all of us! But, in the creation of this dish, I was able to focus my time, attention and energy into the making of the food--instead of my problems.

And that, my friends, is one of the many reasons I believe in the emotional healing power of food.

I also made a new rice pilaf with toasted noodles in it, spinach and a handful of Feta Cheese. That recipe is compliments of Rachael Ray, and it was so yummy! She said it would taste just like Spanicopita without the Pastry--and she was right! It was so good and hearty, I enjoyed that too!

And of course, me being Sarah, I also made a salad with my famous lemon dressing. I could quite honestly become rich off of that stuff. Move over, Paul Newman Dressing! LOL! I love his salad dressings actually, but in all sincerity, EVERYONE who has ever tasted my lemon dressing becomes an instant fan of it! Plus, at this point, I've made it so many times, I could do it with eyes closed, so it's comfort food!

I know, I'm weird, I find salad comforting! Oh well, I'll never get cancer, right?

In all honesty, making that meal for myself last night was the best possible thing I could've done at that moment.

I wasn't hopping mad before I started making it, but I wasn't exactly happy either. I was visibly upset over some stupid little thing that really didn't matter in the grand scheme of things.

When I plated up my entire dinner, and tasted it--all together--oh my good Lord, I was like in Heaven on Earth! And I thought "See, I don't need to go out to dinner--I make just as good of food right here in my own kitchen! And I made it! I took the time to create this, and enjoy the creative process of it! It's wonderful! Yummy!"

I thoroughly enjoyed both making, and eating, my dinner!

I was healed a little bit last night by that meal. And it proved to me that while life will never be perfect, and we rarely get what we expect (often life is better than we expected, but that's another post), we might as well make the most of it anyway!

I make the most of it with food, and food makes me happy.

If going in the kitchen and cooking up a storm--which puts out delicious, healthy food--in the process--makes me happier, calmer and less irritated, than so be it!

I know that's why so many turn to their kitchen in times of chaos. Paula Deen, Sandra Lee, my own grandmother and mother--myself. Cooking incooperates all five senses--sound, sight, tactile feeling, smell, and taste!

You HAVE to pay attention to what you're doing otherwise you'll burn something, the water will boil over on the stove (creating a huge mess), or you'll quite possibly cut the tip of your finger off.

The kitchen is a dangerous place, sometimes, but isn't life often dangerous?

In the kitchen, and in life, you have to: show up, be willing to try something new, have the right tools, harbor the right ingredients, be satisfied with what you already have, make the most out of what you have, be flexible, be willing to get creative, engage fully in the moment and be honest with yourself when something is worth standing over all day long--or worth putting on the back burner.

If you get and do all that, you're all set! That's why I continue to cook--not only to physically feed myself, which is utterly important, of course. But, I cook to feed my soul. To fully indulge in my senses, to stay connected to the past--to be in the present--to dream about the future.

I cook to healthfully distract myself, and I cook to be a happier, more well-rounded person.

And while there are certainly times I am not in the mood to cook--most of the time, whenever I do--I'm always glad I did!

So, in the spirit of the holiday Season, I wish you and yours HAPPY COOKING TIMES!

The holidays are a lot about cooking and food and sharing that food with family and friends--just another reason I love this time of year so much!

Thank You, Lord, for delicious, plentiful food! For the love of food and family and friends and the continuity of it all! You are generous in Your blessings and I so appreciate them all!

Merry Christmas, everyone, here's to fantastic holiday food everywhere!

In Light N' Love,
-Sarah Liz :)