[french fries]

Sometimes cooking can be a zen activity. By zen I'm thinking of an activity that is time-consuming, highly repetitive, requires focus and precision. Simple stuff, but needs to be done well.

Today I've shaved 4 heads of cabbage into super thin stripes to make sauerkraut. Since I don't own a mandoline, I used my knife and my patience.

Then I asked my kid to join me in preparing fresh fava beans. First taking the beans out of the pods, then shelling them.

Now I'm ready to prepare dal and slow cook some pork ribs marinated in saffron/coriander/cumin/fennel for the past 36 hours. Dry toasting and butter toasting whole spices then pounding them in my mortar and pestle...

Slow cooking!! /img/vbsmilies/smilies/smile.gif

 

[petalsandcoco]

That's not only Zen but cooking with love. Your a great Dad ! :thumb:

 

[koukouvagia]

Those are not the type of activities you see being shared by families much anymore, what a treat for your kids.

I remember once having some big argument with my husband years ago, and then I went off to cook moussaka.  By the end of the whole ordeal I felt calm and spent.  I find cooking to be cathartic.  

 

[french fries]

That's not only Zen but cooking with love. Your a great Dad ! /img/vbsmilies/smilies/thumb.gif

Haha.. thanks petals. It's funny I asked my kid "do you want to help me take those beans out of the pods?" and he said "no." so I didn't say anything and sat in front of him and started taking them out of the pods and when I looked for the biggest-longest-oddest-looking bean and dangled it in front of him "check that out" and that's when he decided to start helping!

I remember once having some big argument with my husband years ago, and then I went off to cook moussaka. By the end of the whole ordeal I felt calm and spent. I find cooking to be cathartic.

Wow I wish my wife would cook me moussaka every time we have an argument. What a treat!

 

[koukouvagia]

Wow I wish my wife would cook me moussaka every time we have an argument. What a treat!

Nope, it was for me. Hubby does not like creamy sauces like bechamel and he's allergic to eggplant. It's why I don't make it very often but it really hit the spot that time, maybe I made it out of anger and spite. I made it for ME!

 

[french fries]

AH!! That's different then!! /img/vbsmilies/smilies/lol.gif

 

[teamfat]

I've been finding that out while playing with my pasta toys. You don't really need to think, but you do need to be aware. Sure, I do some thinking when it comes to deciding what sort of dough to make, what shape, etc. but when it comes down to the actual mechanics of doing it, you just do it.

mjb.