Apocalyptic Culinary Pursuits
Let's talk about a couple of things.
1. What do I mean by apocalyptic? Typically when you say or read the word "apocalypse", it's associated with the complete and final destruction of the world. Obviously, I'm still able to buy bacon, so I don't think we're at the end yet. But apocalypse can also be defined as "an event involving destruction or damage on an awesome or catastrophic scale." I think we're there. An apocalypse. It's one of those things that I always thought would happen, but never believed actually would. COVID-19 has wrought significant damage to our communities, our physical, spiritual, and mental health, our small businesses, our economy, our jobs, our toilet paper aisles, our trust in neighbors, our faith in so-called experts, and it has shaken would-be purposes and goals we set for ourselves. I think it's safe to call whatever this is an apocalypse.
2. Culinary pursuits. Let's be honest. I'm a great cook. And I'm a better baker. I come by it honestly. My Mom is an amazing cook, and she taught me everything I know about seasonings, pairings, and flavor profiles. I mean, we didn't call it that. It was more like, "Yes, this definitely needs more garlic." and "Sure, let's see what happens when we puree the carrots into the marinara." If she let me, I'd always jump at the opportunity to get in the kitchen and mess stuff up. My Grandmother's maiden name was actually Baker. So, yes. The kitchen has been a bright spot for me mentally this past couple of months. We haven't ordered take-out or eaten pre-prepared (is that redundant?) food since early March, before everything got wrecked. My dedication to and love of culinary pursuits has been pushed to the limits, for sure. But it's been so much fun. I can't complain.
Bacon has also been a bright spot. It literally goes with everything. I've also taken to making my own sauces, and I created a pretty dang delicious copycat of a certain spicy grilled chicken sandwich from a certain fast-food restaurant. There has been homemade bread, marinated meats, roasted vegetables, and lots of dishes rolling off the proh-pane grill.
These past few years, I think I just got lazy with more eating out than eating in. It's easier to just pay someone else to do it, but there's something almost religious about planning, preparing, presenting, and consuming a meal that comes out of your own kitchen. It's been nice to reconnect.
Except for the dirty dishes, obviously.
Seriously. So many dirty dishes. All the time. It never stops.
