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I go through dramatic phases with food. Sometimes I lovingly labor over meals and savor the cultural experience of breaking bread like I’m someone’s Italian mother. Other times I prefer my food in smoothie form, so it’s merely functional and all I ask is that it keep me from starvation.
Lately, food has been more foe than friend, as I have been knee-deep in a cursed kitchen phase. Over the past month or so, everything I touched in the kitchen turned to crap on a plate. I burned everything and used sugar instead of salt. I made a giant mess and at the end of it all we ordered take-out.
My husband says that I am “daring in the kitchen” but he usually means it as a good thing. The phrase has taken on more of a “fire hazard” kind of meaning recently, but whatever the reason for my culinary crisis, it seems to have passed and I am glad.
And the timing is perfect, because I’m getting some cool fall veggies, thanks to my Community Supported Agriculture box, I get challenged with things like this alien fellow.

He is a romanesco, a kind of Italian broccoli that tastes a lot like cauliflower. Saute it with a little oil and garlic - delish.
My bad kitchen karma reminded me of the satisfaction in keeping it simple. I like simple food. Good, real food tastes great with only a little help.
Also, I’m kind of lazy, so cooking something that has 75 ingredients, takes 2 hours and requires me to make a watermelon relish accompaniment is only going to happen once a year. Gimme a baked sweet potato and put a little salt on it. I’m good to go.
Cooking used to really overwhelm me. I thought it was some kind of wizardry that was inherently complicated. But like so much else in my life, the meals and moments that I really remember are the simple ones. The ones that were honest and true and without a lot of fuss or drama.
I cook with whole foods, fresh fruit and veg, as locally and seasonally as possible. I try to be playful and try things and not take it too seriously. And that, I find, fuels my body, mind and soul in a way that just feels right.
I’m a lifelong vegetarian (well, allegedly, prior to the age of three I was carnivorous) but lately we’ve been leaning vegan. Here are a list of my favorite vegan-friendly websites, in case you are looking for a little inspiration:
What are you cooking these days?
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Hi Lisa, enjoyed your post. Glad to hear that you are out of the hazard phase – it sounded scary! I agree that simple cannot be beaten when you get just the right ingredient and cook it just so. My husband is the daring one in the kitchen and I’m excited about learning how to improvise in the way that he does and recording it on my blog. Wishing you more happy cooking adventures 🙂
Thanks, Esther! That sounds like a great blog — I’ll be sure to come to you for inspiration!! Thanks for stopping by!
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