On Cooking

If you were to take a look at my upbringing, you might hypothesize that I would be a great cook.

I am not.

My paternal grandmother has long been hailed as creating Chinese cuisine that blows even the most authentic restaurant out of the water.  My maternal grandmother was known for her fried chicken.  I have an aunt that I am convinced is the best baker in the world, if only solely because of her delectable red velvet cake.  My sister is the type that can make a gourmet meal out of a can of tuna and the contents from the bottom of her produce drawer.  And my mother, well, she can cook anything.

Then there is me.  A former weight loss and food blogger, I realize now that I have been masquerading as a young woman with actual cooking skills.  In reality, I can claim expertise on what can only be called food preparation.

Cooking and food preparation, my friends, are two very different things.

Slaving away all day making homemade beef bourguignon = cooking.

Filling a steamer with vegetables and salmon and then slathering it all with bottled teriyaki sauce = food prep.

Slicing strawberries?  Yup.  Food prep.

My goal this month is to take the time and effort necessary to actually cook my meals, rather than prepare or purchase them.

Do you cook, or simply prepare food?