Love in the Kitchen... by Ana (myself)

Some products of the Love of my kitchen

Cooking is an act of love. For all and particularly for those who never got too caught in with this art ... just like me.

Those close to me know that my cooking skills are modest and that I am not sensitive when preparing food.

In my life’s history learning to cook was an obligation. Above all, imposed by education: my mother considered that her daughters had to know the basics. So, since very early, I had the task of cooperating in cooking family meals. As I grew older, my interest in the "world of pots" remained at the level of eating just to survive.

But then came the day when I flew out of parent’s nest… So, cooking won a prominent (and tiring) role in my daily routine. That was precisely the turning point! It was when I realized that welcoming family and friends means offering them some gastronomic goodies. Devoting some of my (then, short) time to cooking meant that those people were important to me; I wanted to please and fondle them with my best efforts!

My bond with the kitchen was developed later to a level that I was always preparing some treat to celebrate special occasions in the close family. However, I recognize that the final results weren’t always totally fair to the efforts devoted to the task ... but I did not give up!

Thanks to my expat condition, my cooking experiences were diversifying and getting deeper. There were times when the Friday dinner included some typical food of the place where we were living. Our meals also became an opportunity to remember (and to bring back) our paths, to keep alive what is so single as a family.

Behold, I’ve come to the present! Today I get amazed by planning surprises for my 3 boys! Culinary surprises; imagine that! And for no apparent reason!… I surprised them because I want to show them that sometime during the day, I thought of them. And if I don’t have time, we cook together!

How can one change so much? With LOVE! It was Love that took me out of my comfort zone and ventures myself into an area that is not part of my essence. Incredibly, the moments when I can have fun and feel accomplished in the kitchen are increasing! Why? Because I'm narrowing ties with those who are important to me!

As a dear old friend of mine says, "we have to put love in everything we do." She even shapes hearts in the food she prepares! I learned that Love has to be even more present in all tasks that please us less, those for which we have less of an inclination. We should also put Love in our routine and obligations. In my case, it’s in the kitchen. And I’ve been managing to make it a more welcoming and beautiful space ☺

Ana Antonio