I know for a lot of people this isn’t always the case. Cooking can be stressful. I mean, come on. Who wants to make 5 different meals to suit everyone’s tastes, each avoiding certain ingredients or food groups? That’s no fun.

And then there’s all the chopping, prepping, mixing, continuous tasting (the most important part of all). And who can forget my least favorite, the inevitable clean-up? No avoiding this cause I’m OCD. But I use this time to sort through all the clutter in my brain as I put everything back in its’ place.

Here is the thing. When I enter the kitchen something magical happens to me. I’m in a place where I can create masterpieces and use my food to share the love inside my heart with my family and friends.

It gives me a voice and a way to show them how much they mean to me. It’s much bigger than just the meal. It’s the sensual process of creating it. A little of this and a dash of that and the most important ingredient of all… Amore (love). I also relish the quiet sense of calm that comes over me when I’m in the zone. It’s so therapeutic.

The sizzle of a hot steak, the smell of onions and garlic sautéing and the citrusy fragrance of lemon zest are like an aphrodisiac. Kneading the dough for my challah or pizza allows me to infuse it with blessings for those that will be enjoying it.

And when I finally get to see the happy smiles on their faces and hear all the glowing feedback from their satisfied bellies, it’s as if I have won an Academy Award. So worth it every time.

What is your happy place? What do you love doing? I’d love to learn more about you.