This morning has been a busy one! After the worst argument Beanie and Jumpy have ever had (these two have such a love-hate relationship) and a frazzled walk to school (late, of course!), Jumpy, Wriggly and I walked to the train station. The girls were not making it easy, believe me.
My trusty camera (almost 7 years old) is yet again being repaired by Canon (third time this year) and it is on its last legs, so I had to go to Calumet in Euston to collect the camera I am renting for the weekend (thanks to everyone who gave me some advice!). As we were waiting for our train, I saw I’d been shortlisted for a Brilliance in Blogging Award. Oh my goodness, thanks everyone for voting, I really appreciate it. If you want to see me become one of the 5 finalists in the ‘food’ category, please vote again, it takes a minute! Oh, and whilst you are doing it, I am also a finalist in the MAD blog awards. Could you spare a vote for little me?
My two little ones behaved like angels on the train, but the walk to Calumet was an ‘interesting’ one. It is exciting trying a new camera, but I had not anticipated the Canon 7D would be so different from my 500D. I hate change and I have no idea how it works. I sort of managed to take a half-decent photo of berries we had for snack, but I could not set it the way I wanted, aaaargh!
On the subject of food, I just thought I would write an ode to food, or simply write random thoughts about food, since I am not remotely poetic.
You need food to stay alive. I get that. Some people do not enjoy food. They simply eat to survive. They eat because they have to. I do not get that. How can you not appreciate good food? Are certain people immune to the fact it feels better to eat a nice, freshly cooked meal with fresh, seasonal vegetables rather than microwaved processed gloop?
Please do not take this the wrong way. I am not being pedantic about food or judging anyone’s lifestyle. I understand that we are all busy and we do not always have the time or energy to cook a decent meal. We have a great Indian takeaway from time to time and we always have fish and chips in the freezer for when I have no inclination to cook or an empty fridge.
What I struggle to understand is when given the choice between a gorgeous, fresh meal and a pile of junk, some opt for the latter. When offered a good, nutritious meal, why on earth would rather have a tin of spaghetti hoops or a Pot Noodle? I have nothing against instant noodles. In fact, I always used to have some at work as a ‘backup plan’. I eat it once in a while, but if I had the choice, I would rather go for leftovers or a freshly cooked meal.
I love food and I find it sad when people choose not to eat because they want to be slimmer, or at the other end of the spectrum, eat crisps for breakfast with cold pizza, washed down with a can of energy drink. Why?
The clatter of pots and pans at the start of a cooking session is the sign the cooking process has well and truly started. The kettle boils, the whisk taps rhythmically against the prep bowl, the butter melts in the pan.
Some movements are easy and natural; others take practice and effort. Peeling carrots with a good potato peeler is almost enjoyable; the thought plucking or deboning a chicken or dough getting under my fingernails make me gag.
As it bubbles gently in the pan, I always take in the smell of butter. The smell of yoghurt cake baking in the oven brings me back to my childhood, the smell of Tartiflette (basically really smelly Reblochon cheese melting over potatoes) takes me back to the first meals I ever cooked for friends in my teens. Other food smells remind me of my uni days, trips abroad, important events in my life. Food is not just sustenance. It is so much more.
Looking at gorgeous food always makes me smile. I like imagining how the photo came together, whether it took ages to style the shot, how it I even possible to make something so perfect and precise.
The epiphany comes with the tingling of taste buds, the tastes that fusion with the smells, the temperature of the food; its sweetness, bitterness or intense flavours explode in my mouth and make me feel alive, happy.
Anyway, I digress. What do you love about food?
Remember, you can vote for me to become one of 5 finalists in the BIB awards (there are 10 of us at the moment) and as I am already a finalist in the MAD Blog awards, if you vote for me, I might have a small chance of winning one of the Oscars of the UK blogging world!
I am with you, we never ever have micro meals they are yuk!! Id rather take time to cook fresh. Live your picture and what a fab picture with a rented camera.
Thanks my lovl. I have no idea what I’m doing with the camera though. This shot was a lucky one I think!
I love food too! I’m trying to be good but it’s so hard. I just love the cake xx
Who said cake wasn’t good? I’m all for cake for brekkie, lunch, dinner…
I love food too and for that reason along I will never be slim!
Story of my life!
It’s lovely to hear someone so passionate about food! I have been trying much harder lately to cook from scratch because I know it’s so much better for my family. Processed foods have their place but occasionally rather than daily I think.
Thanks Gemma. When I’m not cooking or eating, I’m generally thinking about food or stealing the kids’ sweets! x
Congratulations on being shortlisted lovely Mel – you certainly have my vote. I have to confess that I often opt for spaghetti hoops or instant noodles because I’m a bit lazy and they’re quick but I much prefer decent home cooked food. Hope you get your camera fixed soon x
Thanks my lovely! My camera is still with Canon. It’s taken longer this time to get fixed and I’ve had to invest in a new one but I’ve got no idea what I’m doing with it!
Congratulations – Lovely to see you in the shortlist again. Fingers crossed we both make it through to the final for another fun night out!
I’ll be there whether I’m a finalist or not 🙂 Are you coming to BritMums Live? Would love a good catch up. x
I’ve not got a ticket, but if I get through to the final of the awards I might see if I can get one.
You will!
This has given me lots of food for thought (excuse the pun). I find it a real struggle to find the time and energy to cook fresh and so I feel I’m forced for a more convenient option.
I don’t cook from scratch every day but I try to have batch cooking sessions at the weekend so there’s always tomato sauce for pasta / cottage pie and stuff like that in the freezer, so that we have ‘ready meals’ that taste yummy, or quick & easy fish and chips from time to time! x
Best of luck Mel. I have my fingers crossed for you. xxx
Thanks sweetie xxx
congratulations and good luck! I just love food – makes me happy haha x
Me too!
I am trying so hard to cook from scratch these days as I know it’s so much better for all of us. Processed food has it’s place but on an occasional rather than a daily basis I think.
Hey Mel, you have got my vote – cooking your Chorizo pasta for the boys this evening – looks yummy! X
Oh sweetie, thanks a lot. It means so much that you’re making one of my recipes! Did you guys enjoy it? Do you remember that time I brought you bread? I’d meant to make the chorizo pasta for you and P that day (but I’d run out of time, as usual!). xxx
a great post. you took a great photo there. 🙂 I’m not quite sure what I like about food!
I love food too Mel! However I have to confess that in the past I didn’t do much in the kitchen – I only learned how to cook when I became a mother. Lack of confidence in the kitchen was my main issue, but simply I’d never learned as a child! So I love that your children are growing up in a household that loves food and loves to prepare food! I was determined that my kids would learn to cook for themselves by the time they leave home (I couldn’t you see!) and my 13 year old daughter can already handle the preparation and serving of a Sunday dinner by herself. She’ll have no trouble when she leaves home – at least I don’t have to worry about her living on toast and ready meals as a student like I did!
It’s brilliant to give your children those skills, isn’t it? Knowing they’ll be able to cook a meal by themselves when they leave home is so reassuring, and I bet they’ll make lots of friends at uni when word goes round that they can whip up a decent meal! xx
Congrats on your nominations! I love food, but time it’s limited and some days it’s s pizza in the oven! X
Thanks lovely! So true, time is not always there for yummy home cooked meals. I love pizza too!
Dans ma petite famille on adore mangé, c’est un vrai plaisir et on aime beaucoup aller tous les 4 au restaurant !