Tuesday, November 18

understanding who i am in the kitchen









i am from montreal as you know. i was very independent when i was young i even moved out form my house at fifteen years of age, but i still went to school everyday. i never had anyone over. i just like quiet a little to much. i also liked my things to remain where i left them. as i got older and moved into the city specifically notre dame de grace . I loved to cook in fact when the first meal i ever cooked was french onion soup at the age of seven, i even took the money i had and bought the perfect bowls to serve my family with and my first dessert was petit choux. i begun to be open to having people come over for a meal, i had been a vegetarian since i was eleven years of age so I would cook hardy soups for friends who were in the neighborhood and quickly learned that sharing meals brought me complete pleasure and was affordable for everyone. i baked a lot too specially around the holidays where i would box my baked goods and deliver them to all the people i knew that would work on holidays and always have ever since. christmas eve was mine to volunteer, drop of goodies and spend time with those who found themselves working.

then later i met my husband we had nothing in common when it came to food, in fact the complete opposite he only ate meat and i only vegetables. slowly it became easier to cook foods that he would eat and i settled for simple dishes which tend to be mostly starches. I also did not know many people who enjoyed the same foods i did..and slowly i gave up what i had one enjoyed so much; cooking at a heavy price. my whole family cooks that is what is great about going home it's always about food . well like a gift from the heavens on a car ride to new hamsphire my husband turned to me and said he does not want to eat meat anymore in our new house...i nearly drove off the highway in delight, i have never asked him to give it up, but he just felt it was time.

the odd thing about it is i forget what it was i ate and i am learning it again and he and i are loving it. i also am inspired daily by the new friends i have made, aran for one, i even joined one of the baking groups( what was i thinking?) i am terrified because it will be a challenge and when i look at there incredible work again i say "what was i thinking". to make things even more strange i have owned a tea and spice business since 2001 so i have every spice in the world..staring at me. well today after reciting these words over and over again to myself " you will be okay, just give it a try" i decided to continue taking pictures of things in my kitchen in hopes of understanding the level of my passion.

(this feels so personal- is it-gosh?)

18 comments:

heidi said...

those spice pics are so rich & fragrant (i can tell)
Isn't it nice having a veg hubby in the house? It makes things SO much easier. Looking forward to pics from the baking club! xoh

Anonymous said...

those photos are lovely (as usual). i've been craving french onion soup lately--i think i'll make some tomorrow...

Charlotte Tollstén said...

I love the pictures in this post.

I have been a vegetarian for 20 years (well almost a vegetarian, I do eat fish sometimes, but not very often)

I have been together with my parter for 11 years and 2 years ago he told me he didnt want to eat meat anymore! I was so happy! So I know the feeling.

corine said...

I would love to be a vegetarian out of principle... but I'm not sure I like vegetables. I guess what's left is.. dessert!

Unknown said...

Great love story!!!!

peachey said...

i love this little peek in to your heart. your love of food, of one another, of family, of rediscovery.

makes me smile.

limonana said...

good for you both!! i'm sure you're already rediscovering your passion for it! such lovely images...

Cannelle Et Vanille said...

i'm so excited for you nadia. seriously... this is going to be such a great new thing for you, i know it! food gives me joy everyday. preparing it with love for those around me. and then we can talk about food even more. is that even possible?:)

Cannelle Et Vanille said...

oh yes, and the photos are gorgeous!!!

Anonymous said...

cooking is great, and this post speaks to me, je suis gourmande et avec mon ancien blog, j'ai appris à découvrir des saveurs et depuis je cuisine moins... lovely, lovely photos one of my favorites so far!!

kendalee said...

I don't cook very well at all - just the basics - so am in awe of people who do. How delightful that you are going to be rediscovering something you loved! And who could not be inspired by all those beautiful spices?!

shill said...

how i wish i'm your neighbour :)i love these images, its modern yet there's a feel of exotic in it, gorgeous nadia!!!

Ida said...

So beautiful nadia :)

muralimanohar said...

I can't WAIT to see images of vegetarian food coming through your blogs. :D

shilvia said...

beautiful words to accompany beautiful images...you have this talent of making ordinary things to have a lovely poetry about them :)

ana dane said...

food truly is the best thing to share with those you love. and it sounds like you'll be able to do that even more so from now on.

(and save of that nutmeg for grating atop a macaroni and cheese, right when you pull it out of the oven.)

cindy* said...

nadia, your honesty is always so beautiful! you are a brave girl.

i am excited that you have joined a baking group...how fun! and aran is simply inspirational when it comes to all things sweet.

Anonymous said...

Hi Nadia,
The photos are love, the light is wonderful and i love spices a lot too, that's my other passion.
Regards from Lisbon
Moira