There’s the old saying, “Out of necessity, comes invention.” I believe the same is true when it comes to recipes, cooking, and baking. I believe that food can help heal what ails us if you understand a bit about food and how the body and mind works with food.
In 2009, I got laid off from my job like many, many others. It’s not surprising that I was depressed and stressed out. The economy was in the tank and jobs were scarce. It didn’t matter how impressive my resume or technical portfolio looked, I was competing with everyone out of a job.
During my never ending job search, I got into the habit of having yogurt with blueberries for breakfast. After a few days, I noticed my mood was lighter about an hour or so after eating my breakfast. At first, I didn’t think much of it. Day after day, I continued to eat my yogurt with blueberries. And day after day, the same results.
After a quick Google search, I found that blueberries were antioxidants and that they helped elevate the mood. Soon after that exploration, I got curious about other foods and how they could help the body. I was unemployed, living in Los Angeles, and I had plenty of time on my hands to explore.
It was at that time that my cookbook collection started to grow. I love cookbooks. I have an overflowing bookcase filled with them. Whenever I want to learn something new or cook something different, they are usually my first place for research and inspiration.
If I didn’t find what I’m looking for or if I want more options, my research then goes online to the NY Cooking (I’ve had a subscription for years) and then to Kitchn whose recipes are simple and straightforward. I do love finding foodie blogs with authentic recipes from their past or reinvented for their needs today.
It’s my sister’s fault I’m obsessed with spices, olive oils, and vinegars. She introduced me to The Spice House in Chicago and Evanston, Illinois. I still buy the bulk of my spices from them. The olive oils and vinegars, I either make or get from a local shop in town called Saparitos.
For more inspiration – especially for bread, I love to wander through the King Arthur Baking Website and catalog (it’s like Christmas every time a catalog arrives in the mail). Their recipes are simple to follow and I love trying out new recipes because of them. I learned to make really ugly bagels until I figured out what I was doing wrong thanks to King Arthur Baking and their insightful blogs!
My obsession with food can’t be contained to the home. When I’m out walking, I listen to food podcasts like Chris Kimball’s Milk Street podcasts, Radio Cherry Bombe (all things in the food and restaurant industry by women and for women), and (for a short time) Bon Appetit (but I’m waiting for them to get their heads out of their ass – that’s another story for another time).
This healthy obsession has served me well. When someone has a cold, I know what to make to alleviate sinus pressure and reduce the runny nose while helping the body to relax and heal. If I’m having an emotional day (like PMS), I make or get a curry. Almost any curry helps reduce the overwhelming emotions and irritability. Then there is the plethora of teas… we have so many teas (and I just ordered more from Mountain Rose Herbs and will order more when Otter and Trout are open again). When I found out that I had arthritis in my lower back and neck, I researched what foods would help me and adjusted my daily diet (Thankfully, I was already in love with olive oil and antioxidants, but more on that later.)
My spouse and I have created a few recipes that we love to make on a regular basis. By some of the titles, you’ll understand why we created the recipe. For many of the recipes, they were created out of necessity. We needed a remedy or a meal and liked adding our twist to what already existed.