Carla's Book Crush

For many, food invokes an almost instant vessel to take you back in time. Once the smell tickles your nose, you are transported to a past place and time where you can recall with uncertain clarity the sights, sounds, and activities around you. It can be a comforting, fun, or uplifting event that warms your heart and soul. Or perhaps you recall learning to cook at your mother’s or grandmother’s knee. Standing on a kitchen chair to reach the counter as you hold the smooth wooden spoon in your hand and swirl the contents in the metal bowl while your family provides gentle guidance. Today you stand at the smooth granite countertop of your home and recall those fond memories as you make the same dish. Your lips gently curve up as you think of the words of encouragement that you grandma had for you.

I have none of that.

My food memories are few and far between. Very simple ingredients or food that comes from cans or jars. I remember eating small curd cottage cheese (the small curd is important) with peaches marinated in heavy syrup, sourced from a can. I would sit on the cool stone floor of my grandparents’ home, eating the snack out of a metal bowl with a metal spoon, while watching reruns of Gilligan’s Island. The whole time, I kept thinking how metal against metal is like fingernails on a chalkboard all the while spooning the creamy and sweet food into my mouth. Gilligan was lost on the island, and the Skipper had to find his Little Buddy. I could not move.

As time has passed and I have my own family, I enjoy the way food brings us together. I cherish the requests for chicken and dumplings as a birthday dinner. I also recall the fails and wonder what I might have done better. This need for perfection haunts me. I do not want to cook from a jar or can; I want fresh food to grace the table. To fill our bellies and provide nutrition devoid of things made by man and packaged with a label full of words that have no meaning to those without a chemistry degree. I want to cook so that others can live and live well. And perhaps one day, as my children or grandchildren smell something sweet and inviting or spicy and bold, they will be transported back in time to a place where love, laughter, and good food were served up daily.