After much deliberation on what to cook for dinner one night, I finally made the decision to do Osso Buco Milanese. Now many would think that deliberating about what to cook is not that important! However, I’m a foodie and for foodies, it’s important. It was raining and cold with some sleet. I was wanting some wonderful luscious warmth for dinner. I just needed one of my healthy recipes.
While I began to prepare the dish, I realized that most of the time that I am cooking, I’m not having so much mind chatter. I’m concentrating on washing, cutting, measuring, browning, etc. And during all that, I may check the recipe if I happen to be using one and considering whether to alter anything in it. Yet my attention is on the dish I am cooking. It’s a peaceful time, restorative.
As I stood at the cutting board chopping carrots, I wondered why some people say they hate cooking. I had not thought about it this way before but I realized that it allows you to let go, be creative, be present and enjoy your senses in the process. You start off using your eyes to read the recipe and looking, gathering your ingredients. Then touch is added as you wash, dry and/or cut. The sound of chopping or mincing, water running, something sizzling in the pan occurs from the moment you begin to prepare the dish.
Then if you are browning anything, your smell engages. Sometimes the smell gets activated while prepping if you chop garlic or aromatic spices and herbs.Your sight might blur some if you tear up chopping onions. During the whole thing, you are creating. And the smells start to merge and create something entirely new as the aromas merge to create the whole it is to become.
The smell is enticing, luring you into the kitchen to check on its’ progress and sometimes you can’t wait for it to get done. And if you make more than needed for one meal, you can freeze it or use in a couple of days for an easy meal. Once again, you get to smell that wonderful aroma as it reheats as I am now, smelling a wonderful Italian meat sauce I made a few weeks ago.
Osso Buco Milanese
And your reward for all this? Your tastebuds will tell you. Sometimes you may even get to sample it while it’s cooking in case you need to adjust any seasonings. The anticipation is an integral part of the whole. Sitting down to enjoy it takes you to another dimension altogether.
Yes, cooking is sensual as is eating. It’s a wonderful pleasure of life. Cooking uses the senses, nourishes your soul, engages your creativity.
Do you like cooking? Do you see it as a chore? What if you changed your perspective on it? What is your favorite dish to make?
Julieann, I love the sensuality of this!
Cooking as a celebration of life…
Thanks, @65cea1b8ad47c03aaeac7624b725367d:disqus ! I’m so glad the sensuality came through! And thanks for reading my blog!
Very nice! I find that when I’m not rushing through preparing a meal, I do actually enjoy cooking a lot more. And, it’s those ‘mindful’ meals that my family remembers the most!
That is so great! Yes, cooking can be a time to truly be present. I find eating fantastic food also brings the same feelings out for me. We can be so present and those memories remain. Thanks. @facebook-100002119023051:disqus
I often do batch cooking where I cook up a large portion and then package and freeze food for easy access later on. I enjoy batch cooking for the reasons you say–I can relax into the process, free my mind, enjoy the many sensory aspects of cooking. I don’t do anything as interesting as what you do, as I eat extremely plain and straightforward food, but reading about what you made was also stimulating. (My mother used to love osso bucco, so I had additional associations.)
Judy Stone-Goldman
The Reflective Writer
http://www.thereflectivewriter.com
Personal-Professional Balance Through Writing
So glad to hear another enjoying the same aspects. It doesn’t matter what is being cooked as long as you enjoy the process and the results make you smile while cooking and eating. I rarely get veal and this wasn’t the old style veal. It was a free range young calf who broke his leg scampering on a hill. As a result, I will bet I may have to do the recipe with beef now. Always love reading your replies, @google-e4b8a5d11c59bf9b9762f4bd9828c22c:disqus
So glad to hear another enjoying the same aspects. It doesn’t matter what is being cooked as long as you enjoy the process and the results make you smile while cooking and eating. I rarely get veal and this wasn’t the old style veal. It was a free range young calf who broke his leg scampering on a hill. As a result, I will bet I may have to do the recipe with beef now. Always love reading your replies, @jstonegoldman
Before my kids were born, I so enjoyed cooking – and the whole of the process just as you described from finding the recipe I wanted for the meal to enjoying it. Even the reading of cooking magazines and cookbooks was enjoyable. Even though my kids have gotten a bit older, cooking hasn’t returned to this same place for me with “not enough time” being my usual excuse. Your post has really reminded me of the wonderful aspects of the whole process…it’s time to stop making excuses and get back into the enjoyment.
Jennifer Peek
Left-Brained Strategy for Right-Brained Businesses
Find Your New Groove
I used to do more dinner parties, now it’s rarely. But I spent more time looking for recipes to try something new. Now I tend to do standbys or something that I know my guests will like. So that is the change I made. My cooking now tends to be mostly for us. Although my hubby has learned the joys of cooking and I know it helps relax him. I tend to do the Italian and Chinese dishes. Let me know how your experience changes. Bring your kids into it to help and give them the gift of mindfulness cooking.
I’m one of those who doesn’t enjoy cooking. I love how you engage all your senses and for me it is a chore. It’s just not a process I enjoy. It hurts my back to be on my feet for that long and my shoulders get tense with all the chopping and stirring. When I do enjoy it is when I do it with a group. I’m an extrovert and I get energy from others. Unfortunately, it is not something my husband enjoys either!
Maybe the next time you are doing a simple recipe that doesn’t require alot of standing, do as I did. Notice the feel of the ingredients, the sights, the smells, let your body and soul get into it and see if it’s more enjoyable! And I’ll bet the dish will taste better too!
I do like cooking now. When it was part of my ‘totally expected’ routine, it was a chore and I didn’t care that much for it. As I have become busy with other projects, it’s a welcome release. My favorite dish to make is spaghetti and meat sauce.
Nothing like spaghetti and meat sauce for good comfort food. You get to enjoy the smells for a good amount of time too elongating your experience. It is a welcome respite if we but change our perception. And sometimes intuition blooms while we’re cooking and a stumbling block in another area of our lives is resolved. Thank you for your comment!
Oh, I am soooo with you on this post. I absolutely agree with everything you said and I go through that same process when I cook. I love to cook, rarely use recipes and when I do they are more for guidance than exactness. And then the eating is the best part!
Candace Davenport
http://www.ourlittlebooks.com ~ Little Books with a Big Message
I love that you get it the same way. I always feel that people miss out by not cooking. It’s rewarding on so many levels! I rarely use recipes too unless I’m trying something new. And I wanted a really good Osso Buco. This recipe is great. I had a gremolata osso buco in Italy at my cousin’s that came out with a light lemon colored sauce. So different. I have yet to find a recipe to match it. And once you brown the meat, there goes the soft colors. I never got the recipe and she is now transitioned.
I am a cook too, Julieanne and your blog made me wish we lived closer! I too find it meditative and creative time. Because I live alone, it is sometimes easier for me to talk myself out of cooking, but lately I have been really looking to change that, even when it means letting something go.
@VickiDelloJoio:disqus , I lived alone until I was in my mid 30’s and I cooked for myself. Once I stuffed an entire head of cabbage with a ground lamb mixture. I had no one to show it to and I wanted to run up and down the street telling everyone to look at this masterpiece! And still I cooked for myself and sometimes had someone over for dinner. You deserve a great meal prepared with love. For that reason alone, I say cook knowing you are giving yourself a beautiful gift of love and then sit down and enjoy every morsel!
Hi Julieanne. Thanks for describing the sensory delights of preparing a meal. I love cooking (and all the rest beforehand and afterward), so your story rings a great bell for me! My favorite to make is jambalaya, and by extension, I enjoy discovering that every society has its own “clear out the pantry” stew.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Stews were not big in my family growing up. Soups, spaghetti sauce, and broiled meats and overcooked vegetables. And always a nice salad. I never make much stew so maybe that may be something to try. I do love making chicken or pork chili verde which is a stew in a way. I am going to do that with some turkey soon. Thanks for your comments.
I do love cooking. I don’t have the time I would like, to be more creative in the kitchen. I have also been cooking more plant-based meals so am in a learning process. I can tell you that removing salt, oil, and dairy from my diet has really tuned up my palate as I incorporate more spices. The flavors of simple meals are wonderful too. Preparing and presenting a meal is a very nurturing endeavor as well as a delightful sensory experience which you so beautifully described!
I’ve been there and done that too. I am very fortunate in that I don’t have to cook every day because my hubby begged me to teach him how to cook when we first started dating. He says it relaxes him so he enjoys the mindfulness without knowing what he gets when he cooks. And maybe he does know and I’m not giving him enough credit! However, some dishes I only do! Thanks for sharing your love of cooking. Now get back in the kitchen! Make the time!
Really enjoyed your post Julieanne. I go through periods of cooking extensively and am realizing I am needing that experience now. After my sister died in 2010, I spent a lot of time making bread. It was a great release and a great way to be mindful. I also enjoyed reading all the comments as well. Food is personal, sensual and important to share!
I’ve always thought food was sensual. And I must confess I don’t understand people who can take it or leave it. I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your sister. Losing a loved one makes us desire the things that bring us comfort. We lost our daughter in 2010 as well. And she loved to cook. Sometimes making one of their favorite foods makes us feel them closer! Hugs to you.
well…you know I love to cook- love it! I cook most every day!
I want to know how you keep your garden so weed free! Or do you just choose how you take your pictures? LOL! Love that you grow what you cook, too @AnnEvanston:disqus
Hello Julieanne. I’m one of the ones who does not enjoy cooking and never has. I did enjoy reading your post. I’ve never quite related to cooking to other hobbies but your description made that happen (i.e. quilting, scrapbooking). They are not too different, only what you work with and the end results.
I’m so excited that you saw it differently. And yes, it’s working with different things and has different end results. The sad part for me is that we eat the end result up but it tastes delicious while we eating it and then I get to make it again and have the experience of it. So still a win! Thank you for your comments.
Great post Julieanne!
I have to say this is a different way to examine the process of preparing a meal. I loved how you presented it. For me, I would say that most of the time, I am a happy cook. I like to stop and focus. Cooking gives me an opportunity to calm down and unwind.I do have to admit that other time, when I am a little more in a rush, I tend to try to go fast and let my mind wander…but still…It’s usually a nice time for the family to get together …Great share!
I just wrote it as I remembered what I saw and processed while I made the Osso Buco. Anything in our lives can be turned into a mindfulness exercise and the calmness that results is just wonderful I’m really glad you enjoyed the post. Thank you for your compliements.