Beginnings

I wanted to share with you a little bit about the beginning of the pink box.

In 2003, my father passed away. My heart still weeps at the thought. I often think of him when I am cooking because so many of my memories of him are of helping him in the kitchen.

Heartbroken and sad, I started to look for a way to create memories with my children that will help me honor the memory of my father.

I found a recipe for banana nut bread. I had my daughters help me make it and while working together in the kitchen I told them stories about my dad. Working together with them made me feel closer to them and him at the same time.

I remember once going into the kitchen and cutting up some potatoes and onions. I fried them together with a lot of pepper. That was one of my dad's favorite dishes. It was just me in the kitchen and when I called my daughters to share in what I'd made, I told them a story about my dad. I never thought about the fact that one day I would be telling stories to my children about my dad that way my dad used to tell us stories about his father, we never got the chance to meet him.

Cooking became my means of working through my emotions. Until on day I realized that cooking made me happy. Stressed out and anxious I went into the kitchen and pulled out a recipe. I read the list of ingredients and started pulling each from the cupboard. As I reached the bottom of the list I noticed that I felt more relaxed. I measured, poured, mixed and beat. Each step was zen and clear. I held my mixing bowl, breathing in the aroma of sugar, butter and vanilla. I closed my eyes and things made a little more sense.

I once had issues with food. It was not my friend. It was like a rag stuffed into the hole of a dam. The water kept flowing not matter how much I stuffed in. I have since worked through those issues and have a much healthier relationship with food. I eat or not based on my physical needs not my emotional ones. It feels good to cook and know that the love I put into each step will be shared with those that eventually will consume it.

Sharing is another food philosophy I have. I was once asked for the recipe to my banana nut bread and I asked that the person I gave it to do one thing in return. Share what she made with someone else and tell the story of why she was giving this delicious food away. I later crossed paths with this woman about a year later. She told me about making the banana nut bread and sharing it with a friend. It felt good to know that the bread turned out great and that she got so much satisfaction from sharing it with someone else.

I get a great deal of pleasure from sharing what I cook with others. It is great to know that my food is satisfying on more than one level.

I read a quote somewhere, but I don't recall who said it. "Do what you love and you will never work a day in your life." That is how I feel about cooking. I just hope to be able to do it for a living. I pray to have a local diner where people will come to enjoy the food we make.

Who knows! You may be singing "Made with love in Coley's oven!"

Pushing forward.