Finding the Joy in Cooking

Why do I find so much joy in cooking?

A question I get asked quite a lot.

Ironically, when I was growing up this wasn’t even a question one would be asked. I cooked because I was a young woman and was told from a young age my husband would want me to cook and clean. So I blindly followed along. I was a horrible cook. Everything I made was either burned or raw.

It took a lot of patience and time to be the Chef I am today. Some of my all-time favorite times revolve around me cooking with my family members. Big dinners were always the funniest because we all had a task to do. Mine was always mincing and blending, and the occasional stirring. During those times we would talk about anything and everything; our relationship problems, health concerns, remedies for different ailments.

It is the only time when we can be vulnerable and speak our truth without judgment and we are allowed to feel the emotion but not let it overtake us, because the number one rule is “No crying in the kitchen It spoils the food.”

Cooking is A Journey

To this day, my cooking journey is a joke amongst my siblings and me. I recall some years ago, after feeding my husband my delicious Peach cobbler I had made from scratch, for the first time, and seeing the absolute look of satisfaction on his face, that only a good dessert could have that effect on anyone, I laughed and kissed his forehead and told him that I was the worst cook in my family. He laughed, thinking I was joking. It would be a few years later when he was able to meet my family and eat to his heart’s content.
This recipe is from my family to yours. Happy Eating. Stay Blessed!

Country Pie

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs (fine grade)
• 1/2 cup onion (finely chopped)
• 1/4 cup green pepper (finely chopped)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 garlic clove (minced)
• 2 – 8 oz cans tomato sauce, divided
• 3 cups cooked rice
• 1/2 cup shredded American Cheese
• 2 slices of American Cheese, cut diagonally
• fresh parsley sprigs
• tomato wedges

Cooking Instructions

1. Combine the first 7 ingredients and one can of tomato sauce. Mix well.
2. Spread meat mixture into a 10-inch pie pan; mold to sides of the pan to form a shell.
3. Combine rice, shredded cheese, and remaining tomato sauce. stir well.
4. Spoon rice mixture into meat shell.
5. Arrange cheese slices over top of the rice mixture.
6. Bake at 350F for 30-40 minutes (or until meat is done)
7. Garnish with parsley and tomato wedges.