DISH: Unveiling the Perfect RecipeDIVA LOVE DISH – Friday: 5/26/06 Dear Diva, Relationships – ARGH! I like it simple. There's too much to remember. Why can't it just be easy! Dave ****** Caro Seeker of Simplicity, You have touched on a universal longing for the simple. Reminds me of one of my favorite sayings: The Quakers sing: “Tis a gift to be simple. Tis a gift to be free. Tis a gift to come down where you're meant to be.” When we seek for the simple and easeful, we often seek after RECIPEs. “Just give me the 5 simple steps. Just give me the fool proof, tried and true, will always work method” – we cry out.
Remember the key: Recipes start with the basics – then season to taste.
As a little girl, in my Mama's Italian kitchen hung with garlic and pepper strands, fragrant with sautéing onions, garlic and olive oil, I wanted to become a great cook like Mama and Nona (Italian word for grandmother.) Mama and Nona were a wonder of movement and choreographed symmetry in the kitchen. While Italian Opera sang from the stereo or sometimes Elvis (my mother believed he was really Italian. He had to be since he was such a great singer.) mouth watering and homemade ravioli's, lasagna's, pasta's, soups, chickens, veal and Spedini (a flavorful mouthful of garlic, parmesan breaded veal) were effortlessly crafted. Or so it seemed amongst the laughter, dancing and music. I was the assistant. I was told to chop, peel, bread or clean. No one used a cookbook. I was never told a recipe. Periodically, I was invited to taste something in process and asked if it needed more. . . .salt, pepper, parmesan, garlic, wine, tarragon, rosemary, lemon, etc. If we all agreed it needed more, a pinch or speckle was added. Then we tasted it again to ascertain if we had yet reached perfection. Years later, when I faced my own first stove, I was paralyzed with fear. No one had ever TOLD me HOW to cook nor SPOKEN the STEPS. I began to open spice jars and to sniff. I looked at the meat I had bought. I got out the olive oil. Relying on intuition, smell and taste I crafted my first meat balls. When I got really stuck, I called Mama, who told me to try a pinch, a handful, a smidge and to keep tasting. They were wonderful. Nowadays, I will occasionally START with a cookbook recipe. But I never trust it completely. It's not alive, breathing, loving nor connected to me. I always change it, craft it, taste it, smell it and work it till it's right for me.
THE PARADOX: The taste for the perfect recipe is nestled inside us. Sometimes we need to go seeking spices, cuisines, and food that we have never yet encountered. If we have been raised on junk food relating, a new adventure awaits. HERE's THE RECIPE:
1) Start with wholesome food, good spices, and working equipment (Be sure your body, mind and spirit are in functional and working order. Seek repair personnel if they not. NOTE: If you are in pain, numb, depressed, always angry, always anxious, unable to orgasm, ejaculating too quickly, unable to get or maintain an erection – seek repair personnel.) Seek out people and situations that nourish, praise, appreciate, accept, and inspire. 2) Apprentice with a cook, or use good cookbook references (Read books. Take workshops. Get into a training program on relationships, massage, sex etc. Get ONGOING coaching, counsel, therapy etc.) 3) Practice. Expect to make mistakes. Keep practicing. Taste. Trust your gut. Learn . 4) Share your abundance with others . (From an inner place of new found abundance, vitality, graciousness, generosity, skill - - - start cooking up events, parties, dates and dishes for friends, community, beloveds.)
UNVEILING THE PERFECT RECIPE: Deep inside us we long for the healthy, wholesome nourishment of dishy relationships. Deep inside us we can taste, smell and know in our gut what will serve us well. Sometimes we have been raised with atrocious role models, neglect, shame, blame, guilt, manipulation, control, and various forms of dysfunction and abuse. (NOTE: Most of us have.) Then we can seek new dishes, new tastes, new recipes, and ALWAYS season to taste. BOOKS:
VIDEOS/Movies:
You are a blessing to the world. Lovingly, |
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