eye-opener

[Guest guest]

I had the most amazing experience today that I would like to share

with you:

I bought Aveline Kushi's 'Complete guide to macrobiotic cooking'

this weekend, and read most of it. The part where she talks about

the way she cooks and the connection she feels with the food was

especially interesting for me.

I liked the quinoa salad I made for the teachers' lunch last week,

so I decided to make another one today. It came out so totally

different that one would doubt it was made from the same recipe.

Last week: was in a terrible rush, radio blaring in the kitchen, 3

dishes cooking simultaneously, used electric blender to chop parsley

and nuts, measured sloppily, my mind was with the kids who I was

late picking up from school - you get the picture. Although it

tasted good enough for me to try it again, the texture was too mushy

and something was missing.

Today, I turned off the radio, which is always on in my kitchen,

concentrated on what I was doing, and thought about every step. I

actually enjoyed cleaning the parsley and chopping it by hand

(although I had already taken out the electric blender, it was

sitting right there.) The smell of the herb and the sound of the

chopping, seeing the color and texture change...I don't think I

experienced anything similar before. I honestly enjoyed every step

of preparing this dish, even cleaning up immediately. And it turned

out so much better than last time! Perfect texture, everything

blended so nicely, it really seemed to have happy positive energy.

This must have been the first time I understood what nourishment

really means.

This might be old news to you all, but for me it was the biggest eye-

opener. I am not saying that the radio will never be on in my

kitchen and that I will never again use electric appliances, but I

will tune in more to the food. I don't really enjoy cooking, it's a

thankless chore because at least one person will complain and whine

about what I put on the table. But after today's experience, I will

change my attitude about that. If I am happy and positive, I cook

happy food, which makes my family happy, right?

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