I wrote this essay for a contest. It follows the format of NPR's "This I Believe" series.
Kitchen Power
By Cindy Kube
My kitchen is the hub of my home. I believe that the kitchen is a warm and comforting place where meals are prepared and shared, the ups and downs of daily life are discussed, hugs flow freely, homework is tackled, and board games are played. When I was growing up, I remember coming home from school to the smell of onions and garlic sautéing, tomato sauce simmering, or cookies baking. My family lingered over dinner at the kitchen table until it was time for our elegant eating space to morph into a practical place to complete homework. As I think back to my childhood, I realize that my kitchen experiences have, in part, shaped the person I have become today. Our kitchen is like the heart of the house, beating regularly with the rhythm of my family’s schedule. In the kitchen, we are together before and after school or work, beginning and ending each day with food for body, mind, and soul.
I have always embraced the spiritual aspect of cooking and eating. I love to carefully prepare meals or snacks, thinking about the ingredients and the people who will eat them. My kitchen has many tools to use, including my grandmother’s wooden rolling pin, a cutting board imprinted with a winning recipe and my daughter’s picture, my mother’s cast iron skillet, and the indispensible garlic press. Since my children were old enough to climb into kitchen chairs, they have enjoyed stirring, chopping, kneading, sorting, and blending. They learned to count, measure and read long before attending kindergarten, as they worked alongside Mom in the kitchen. They also felt the joy of creating and sharing food. Working together in the kitchen was both a bonding and learning experience that transformed us and continues today. The question, “what’s for dinner?” implies that quality time will be savored along with a delicious meal.
In the kitchen, I am in control of what I create. No matter what else has happened throughout my busy day, I look forward to a peaceful and unhurried time in the kitchen. In the winter it is about roasted vegetables and crock pot soups, while summer is a dizzying array of fresh salads and herbal pastas. Celebrations include family favorites like black bean salad with cilantro sauce, cranberry cake, and tofu spinach enchiladas. The social, emotional and physical aspects of creating and eating in the kitchen nurture us as individuals and as a family.
My life experiences in the kitchen have given me patience, passion, and fulfillment. I’ve learned that getting the seasonings just right requires careful adjustments and patience as flavors meld. I am passionate about healthy eating and providing a nurturing home for my children. The kitchen is a happy, winding down place that provides a respite from the bustling work-school-activity driven world we live in. In our kitchen, we discover how to sustain our lives through the joyful preparation and sharing of food, friendship, and family. Tomorrow morning, when I shuffle in to the kitchen to start a pot of tea, I will smile and start a new day.
