Real Cooking; Real Food


We are a nation of foodies, which accounts for why cooking shows dominate programming on several television network channels. A major theme that often shows up on these programs is how to fix dinner in a hurry with recipes that call for as few ingredients as possible. But, sometimes, time and patience have to be the key ingredients to satisfy not only our palates, but also our creative side.

Show Me and I Will Learn

James Beard, Julia Child, and Graham Kerr were pioneers in the field of televised cooking shows. Recipes laced with genuine affection for food reflected their creative expertise at producing mouth-watering dishes we couldn't wait to try and replicate. Recipes were broken down step-by-step until even the most difficult preparation could be mastered by the home cook. Their traditions have been sustained by contemporaries like Tim Love and dozens of other skillful chefs. Advances in film making technology may have refined the backgrounds and sets used on the shows, but the premise to demonstrate how home cooks can produce tasteful, aesthetically beautiful food hasn't wavered.

Bonding Via Food

Besides learning difficult food preparation from TV personalities, the chances are great most of us have learned some cooking techniques from helping parents, grandparents, or other relatives in the kitchen. Chopping, mincing, basting, mixing, blending, and peeling are plain cooking terms that become magic expressions when shared with someone you love.

Food Recalls Memories

Family recipes handed down for generations can't be hurried. Saving time isn't an essential concern when one is fixing a meal associated with childhood memories. For instance, consider an apple pie made from freshly peeled and sliced apples encased in a rich, flaky crust of unified flour and a solid of the cook's choice. Substituting canned apples or a frozen pie crust just to save time simply won't evoke the same reminiscent taste or warmhearted memories.

From our home kitchens to perfectly arranged television venues, kitchens are the main rooms for practicing the art of creating masterful platters of food and for solidifying relationships. Whether we hone our skills with the help of professional TV personalities or with our family, food is an integral part of any culture and definitely part of ours.


Comments

Pepper Tan said…
I remember how I used to love watching cooking demos on TV even when I was a kid. Now that I'm a mom, it's something I still enjoy- now with my own daughter. She's starting to show a keen interest in cooking. Yes, it's a form of bonding between us. Simply priceless :)