It is ‘Write or Die Wednesday’ again.
Writing about deadly sins. Hmmm…and I only get to choose one! Well, actually it’s pretty easy. Despite the fact that at various times of the day I can associate with all of them. The one I feel most connected to is Gluttony, and I am not sorry about that!
I started to research the sins, but I got grossed out and freaked out so I thought I would just write without too much deep thinking, without too much planning. I would just write what comes out of my mind. Oh and if it’s ok with you, I am eating my favourite takeout while I do this. Tonight I ordered the Chicken Chow Mein, Broccoli and Mushrooms with Tofu, oh and Fried Rice which the children love.
In another post, I recently wrote about five things I am grateful for. One of these was food. This is what I wrote:
Food is necessary for survival sure but I’m so grateful I love food. I love everything about food – cooking, learning new cuisines and being open to experiencing them. Food is so symbolic. Used as part of everyday rituals, it brings together friends, families and communities. It is social, opening doors to communication. It nourishes, heals and nurtures. People define themselves by the food they prepare and consume. My husband and I had great discussion
about what our first official meal here in Manila would be. We wanted it to be memorable, representative of this adventure we are on. I could write forever about food, recipes, cook books, but I think I will go off and do some baking after I’ve finished this post…
I did go and bake. I made Honey Joys – an Australian classic, a staple in our family. We scoff them down, devouring every last morsel.
As I write this, we are heading into Easter. I have a few food traditions and making Hot Cross Buns is one of them. So, I have just been half way around the city finding ingredients for my buns. I have a new friend here in this new city of mine. She is making the mixed spice I need for my buns, that I have not found in any shops. I will be making a batch for her and her family. Food brings new friends together.
Here is what else I love about loving food:
Our wonderful pizza nights where my SB makes the most divine wood fire pizza’s. Everyone agrees.
Laboriously planning my children’s birthday parties, to make sure the food is complimentary, making sure all of their favourite foods are served and ensuring the cake of their birthday cake is a taste sensation.
Planning and cooking beautiful menu’s to go with beautiful decorating to celebrate milestone birthdays for my parents.
Cooking heartfelt meals for my girls nights. Sitting at my table watching them enjoy my efforts and hearing about how their weeks have been.
Baking with my children. The joy we all get from pouring, sifting, stirring, folding, beating and tasting. Decorating cupcakes, picking out the icing colour, choosing which little sprinkles and flowers go on each cake. Baking chocolate chip cookies and having little fingers scooping out the mixture to ‘just have one last little taste’.
Working out a special new meal to cook together, my husband and I, and enjoying our conversation and reconnection. Or deciding on a new place to eat out at, to experience what they have to offer. We tried a Thai Restaurant the other night, in a shopping precinct near our new home filled with eateries and you cannot imagine our excitement at discovering this place!
I have a few intolerances but I refuse to limit what I eat. What I do is ‘manage’ my situation. I behave day to day so when I want to eat what I want, I do and I can. I am lucky I can live like this. I understand others are unable to enjoy such freedom.
We need the sun, the moon and water to nourish our world. We need food to nourish us. It nourishes our muscles, our bones, our veins, our skin, our hair. It nourishes every molecule of our being. We have taste buds which have evolved from teaching us what not to eat, to what we enjoy most. I listen carefully to what my body and my taste buds tell me.
This is why I am a Glutton, and a proud one at that.
7 Comments
I love this post!! I contemplate food a lot too. I think of how ancient a ritual it is, how it is the staple of ALL cultures, the way it brings people together, the JOY it brings, etc.
My fondest memories of my family (as in mom, dad, brother) revolve around food…BBQs, holiday dinners, Mexican breakfasts, etc. I try to make sure I do enough, too, to ensure my kids grow up to have the same fond memories.
Agghh I love food.
Do you have any Filipino favorites yet? 🙂
Hi V. Thanks for your comment. I just love food so much I could talk about it all day. In answer to your question. Here in Manila it is very Americanised so there is a Starbucks about every 100 meters and a MacDonald's too. So getting to eat real Pinoy food is a challenge. The local restaurants are mostly other cuisines and it is all mostly westernised. There is a lot of street food, but for us accessing it is the challenge due to safety, location etc. Having said that I just found out about a park just out of town with really good street food and a traditional 'Kitchen' and we are massive fans of the 'Kitchen' set up. We are planning on heading out there as soon as we can, so stay tuned!
Food is a big part of our lives. Aside from eating to live, of course – but the traditions. Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas, etc. I love getting together with family and friends and sharing a meal together and just talking and laughing.
Thanks so much for sharing with us! 🙂
You are certainly right that food can bring people together. You sound more like a food connoisseur than a glutton to me 🙂
Ooooh…looking forward to reading about it!
I make some of the Pinoy staples often. My hubby is Filipino-American, and over the years (15) I've learned quite a bit from friends and my in-laws. How familiar are you with Filipino food? I can recommend some yummy stuff if you're not sure where to start.
Thanks for the comments ladies. I like that, a Food Connoisseur! I like it a lot! 8)
Food is well worth the gluttony!