Take back the Kitchen!
November 1, 2006
It’s that time of year again — Kraut Season! Yes, this time every year my industrious husband buys dozens of cabbage heads and then proceeds to make his own sauerkraut. As odd as this seems to some, I’m amazed at how coveted his kraut has become over the years. That’s the most asked for holiday gift from several members of my family and many friends. Too many people these days don’t actually know how to make their own food. Food is just something that comes from a supermarket. Beyond that they have no connection, which is really sad. I know they told us that it’s more convenient this way, but I think we’ve lost something. A book I’m reading explained it nicely. Food has become another commodity, when it’s supposed to be a gift, a cultural connection, a shared community activity. It’s sad that my making my own food is so unusual.
Making your own sourkraut may be a big step for people, but there are lots of other foods that we never consider making that you could start with. How about cottage or ricotta cheese? I’ve made both — and both are really simple. Even easier is yogurt cheese — that’s the easiest to start with. None of these cheeses need to be aged, so you can just enjoy them as soon as you are ready. And don’t say — “that’s too hard.” When did we forget how to cook? It’s really sad that people equate cooking with rocket science.
How about making cookies or muffins from scratch? I’m always amazed that people actually buy mixes for these things. Pre-packaged convenient? Are we really that lazy? The best thing about making your own food is that you know exactly what goes in it. I’ve been able to streamline a great pound cake recipe and probably trim 1/2 the calories over the years. But it does take some experimentation to know what’s going to work and what isn’t.
Okay — so you’re still thinking you don’t have the time to cook all this food. Well, I think you’re wrong — but okay. What else can you do to better connect yourself to your food. How about shopping at a local farmers’ market? That’s a weekly ritual for me. I love meeting the people who actually grow and make my food. Yes, it does sometimes cost more but the quality is also far superior. I mean really — artisanal cheeses just can be compared to supermarket cheese. It’s also healthier. I don’t mean more nutritious, just overall healthier. Most farmers at a market are small farms, not industrial giants. They are people who care about the land and animals they tend and so they make much better choices that result in better food for everyone. For example, I didn’t need to worry about the e-coli scare in spinach recently. I know who grows my spinach and how he does it. No worries for me.
So break out your eating habits. Food is good. Food is fun. We have terrible relationship with food in this country. Eating has become a chore instead of a joy. Get happy, go eat something real that you made yourself and take back the kitchen!
Technorati Tags: cooking, slow food, local, farmers market, eating, sauerkraut
Comments»
Right on, Carly! I totally agree with you. This year, my mother-in-law, my husband and I are taking back what “Thanksgiving” really is all about - real food. Last year, we had a very disappointing one, where everything, and I mean, EVERYTHING was pre-made, and bought at the store! Including the turkey…. So, this year, we’ve volunteered to prepare it ourselves.
It’ll be my first REAL homemade Thanksgiving
Can’t wait. Btw, please send me your unbelievable buttery apple pie crust (and/or apple pie) recipe! It’s my job to supply the pie!