It seems to me that its almost a rite of passage’, for chefs to travel Europe, and other parts of the world to study and experience other methods of cooking both ancient and modern, it also seems that ‘old methods die hard’ and the flavor is the important result in all their cooking.
I grew up on a farm and, at that time there was just simple food, salt and pepper, and homegrown vegetables. Chickens were cooked plain but basted regularly throughout the process, and came out delicious they had, as it were, their own flavor and skilled cooked without additives drew this out. I am not against herbs and spices I use them myself, but I’m trying to follow the total craze for them which is going on now for a very long time.
when we reflect on the changes in the world prior to, and during the pandemic it seems as though the world has lost flavor, and without flavor, what do we savor? When one goes out now it is difficult to enjoy the flavor and savor the company, and it’s only afterward when we come home we can perhaps reflect or feel the enjoyment of meeting our friends. In my opinion, this is because we are always on guard so our energy for making connections and relating to others is used up by fear and anxiety. I sometimes think if we could see the infection walking towards us we’d hide beneath the table, or run away at the speed of light, but this contagion is a low mean operative seeking out its prey behindhand.
Keeping safe is our priority, and we all already know so much about that, but keeping safe, is not always easy, as it also depends on others keeping the rules, and being able to feel reasonably content within ourselves regarding our coping mechanisms. The soldier on century duty is eventually relieved from his post and has a break so we need to understand how to keep safe and be able to ‘stand down’ and have a safe break. Walking in a quiet area and observing nature is always helpful to me. If this is not possible for you then you may be able to access nature through television or radio. Essentially, though we need to get back to our breath and use our meditative skills to follow our breath through our bodies.
Recently, in a zoom study group I was asked to remember a time when I had been favoured. I could not think of one until later. It was many years ago when I was in hospital away from home and received 15 bunches of flowers.Flowers were no longer allowed on wards but the nurses built them into a corner so we could all enjoy them, they said they did it because I was a stranger away from home and family. This remarkable kindness and thoughtfulness had a great effect on me at the time, and still has, it gave me, at the time, the will to fight to live.
Lets practice kindness and thoughfulness so we can help ourselves, and others, and be respectful to our own needs and to others favouring is not doing a favour, it is engaging with your own needs for appropiate care, and doing the same for others. If we add this practice into our meditative way of life it will take on lasting flavor and we will savor the experiences for life. Dont blame others do it yourself!
COOK WELL!
hrough
aoibheann thoughtful reflections 