I was reading an article (http://chronicle.com/article/Tools-for-Living/130615/ ) and the statement about people not knowing how to cook made me grimace a bit. time and time again I find myself surrounded by people who can't cook and I often find myself confused as to why this is such a lost art. Food is an every day occurrence- it's not like it's hard to obtain ingredients, nor do we lack the space to do such magic within our homes. Also, one can get an recipe anywhere and follow it with good success. To me, and I admit it's entirely speculation, the problem lies in apathy. Why cook when I can just buy this burger? Why spend the 30 minutes in the kitchen when I can watch the latest episode of Always Sunny in Philadelphia? There is a harsh lack of priority in today's society that we've been growing since the dawn of microwaves and the mighty corporation. Our reward systems are out of whack. And I will be the first to admit, I have no idea how to fix it. I've preached to friends forever about the joys of cooking and the kitchen revolution of healthier, green eating but most can't be bothered or simply get frustrated by the initial learning curve of what it essentially tasty form of chemistry and give up. I've also have several people ask me to teach them cooking, to which I'm always thrilled and eager to help, but it just seems like it's not enough.
So I guess what point I'm trying to reach is… how do we help more people learn about cooking? Do we teach in in colleges? How do we teach it in the home to families? How do we make people enjoy cooking again?
This weeks recipes:
* Kale salad: http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2011/11/kale-and-brussels-sprout-salad
* Crispy lotus root with black truffle oil (sautéed sliced lotus root in olive oil until brown and crispy, sprinkle with parmesan reggiano cheese and drizzle with black truffle oil) A very fancypants appetizer when trying to impress folks without really doing much in the kitchen! I'm starting to develop a deep love for lotus root and may start posting a lot of recipes about this tasty vegetable... It's super earthy and sweet, not to mention beautiful and exotic!
What I want to try next week: http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/2011/10/03/slow-cooked-sweet-potato-chili/
Coming up next: I bought a food dehydrator. I'm dehydrating EVERYTHING. :D
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