The gift of cooking

We have all heard the saying “If you give a man a fish you feed him for a night, but if you teach him how to fish you feed him for life”. Learning a skill is always beneficial for our well being, especially when it comes to cooking. We all choose to cook for different reasons. Some find it relaxing, others like to be in control of what is put in their food, while many see it as pure enjoyment. However, for a large portion of the country it is a chore that people are not willing to find the time for.

As a society we have always been divided into two groups, those who love to be creative and artistic and those who like to go straight by the book with rules and formulas. Yet, as life always proves we need to adapt to being both at one time or another. What I love about cooking is that it teaches us how to be both. With certain recipes we feel comfortable enough to add a dash of this and handful of that, letting the creative juices flow. With others there is a  need to stay straightforward following measurements and directions precisely. Learning how to cook teaches us that we can be both, it forces us to leave our comfort zone and step into a new world. It's both a science and an art, filled with history and memories.

Lately, with new shows like Food Revolution and the First Lady’s campaign against obesity, getting kids in the kitchen has become an issue of vital concern. Kids are growing up without learning anything about the kitchen, other than packaged and processed foods. There is no doubt that health is the number one concern when it comes to getting kids in the kitchen. Nevertheless, there is the larger story of cooking that children all over the country are missing out on. Learning to cook teaches us more than what’s seen on the surface. It's a skill that teaches us about life. It educates us mentally, physically and socially and to put it simply, it is a gift that is simply irreplaceable.

The Meal

What is a meal? It is easily describable with the standard table settings and components, but the meal is far from having a strict definition. The truth is that a definition of a meal goes beyond what can be seen in front of your eyes because it is the essence of a meal that we all leave the table remembering.

* A memorable meal at the Walnut Room in Chicago. That’s me at age 5 smiling at the camera.
As our world becomes filled with drive- thrus, vending machines and 24/7 activities our society is beginning to lose the meal. At one time or another we have all experienced the feeling of eating just to eat. The day is rushed and all of a sudden you realize you need food and find the simplest and quickest option without much thought elsewhere. It is my belief that a meal simply requires a connection to what you’re eating, whether it’s as simple as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or as extravagant as three- courses.

The traditional sit down meal was not an experience I grew up with every night. My mom is not a cook and never will enjoy the process of making a meal from scratch. In fact I grew up telling my mom she is the exact opposite of a "Fifties- style" mom. She didn’t serve homemade cookies after school and doesn’t have any secret “mom” recipes for chicken noodle soup. This is not the typical background of a foodie since it is no surprise to anyone when a famous chef, food writer or home cook attributes their love of food to a lifetime of shared recipes from family and friends. My love of food was something I was born with and even though my mom did not teach me how to cook or serve complete meals every night( forgetting side dishes was a common occurrence) she provided me with a life of joy with food in the center, homemade or not.

I know what it means to enjoy food, and what it feels like to share a meal with loved ones at the table. To many the meal may feel like an obligation, another daily ritual just like brushing your teeth. The meal in itself may just be food and table settings, but what occurs teaches us about each other, about our past and connects us as a society.

I encourage you all bring back the meal, foodie or not, because when food and love are combined only good things can happen.

Brunch has always been one of my favorite meals. Served at the perfect time of day, it’s the kind of meal that seems to force us all to slow down and relax. The best part is that a great deal of brunch items can be prepped and prepared ahead of time, keeping the atmosphere stress free and enjoyable. Try this recipe for Baked Orange French Toast that can easily be prepped the night before and placed in the oven the morning of the brunch.

Baked Orange French Toast
Recipe from the Betchel Victorian Mansion Bread and Breakfast Inn
6 Slices day old bread( French bread works nicely)
¼ cup butter, melted
½ cup brown sugar
¼ tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. orange zest
4 eggs beaten
2/3 cup Orange Juice
Place the melted butter in a 8X10 oven safe baking dish. Combine the brown sugar, orange zest and cinnamon and pour over the butter.
Combine the eggs and orange juice in a separate bowl. Dip the slices of bread in the mixture and place on top of the butter brown sugar mixture in the baking pan.
At this point the french toast can be placed in the refrigerator overnight. When ready to bake place in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes.
Once you take the pan out of the oven allow it to cool slightly. Flip the pan over onto the serving plate so that the caramelized brown sugar and juice is on the top of the dish.