Cooking Therapy
It’s all around us, streaming on every social media channel, in the papers and magazines, on TV’s and radio, and blaring in restaurants and airports. The news. I’m finding that the more I stay away from seeking it out, the calmer I am.
Now
Today I engaged in cooking therapy and some baking therapy, too. I turned off the news and email, turned on the music, and made a big pot of chicken soup both for my soul and to take to a dear friend whose husband just had surgery. Then I made a loaf of bread from my friend Jane’s book, and capped it all off with some Madeleines just because I like them and they make me feel good. I’ll give the Madeleines away tomorrow. Tonight I’m feeling calmer and more centered than I have in weeks, maybe months.
Then
I feel like I did when I lived at the post and beam house Duncan’s dad and I built in the 1980’s. I taught music, gardened, sewed, knit, read, walked, watched VHS movies with my family, and made ice cream. Our social schedule consisted of play group, a 12 family food buying coop, and evenings with friends for dinner. We rarely listened to the news. The really important stuff always got to us. When the Loma Prieta Earthquake in Oakland struck in October of 1989 we cried because of people we knew who were there; when the Berlin Wall came down three weeks later we celebrated because it meant that our world was more open and free.
Tomorrow
Now everywhere I turn I see people wondering “what’s next?” I know that it is important to keep current, but it is also important to turn down the velocity and volume of all the rapidly changing current events before burning up with anxiety.
Today
Today I baked. Today I cooked. Today I helped a friend. Today I took care of me.
- 1 chicken cut into pieces
- water
- 3 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 1 stalk celery, chopped
- 4 small parsnips, peeled and chopped
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 4-6 cloves garlic, diced (optional)
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- In a big pot put about 12 cups of water and turn the heat to high.
- While waiting for the water to boil chop the vegetables.
- Add the chicken pieces and vegetables, optional garlic, salt and pepper.
- Lower the heat and simmer covered for one hour. Lift the chicken pieces from the pot and remove the bones and discard. Cut the meat into bit size pieces and return to the pot. Simmer for one more hour if you like.
- Taste the broth and add more salt to your own taste.
So true Kate! Today I baked your deep dish clam pie..improvised with Trader Joe’s canned clams. Quite satisfying . Especially the act of burying my hands in pastry . Thank you !
My pleasure and good to know about using the canned clams. Thank you, Patricia!
Hi Kate…
I’d love to have your recipe for Madeleines..
Thanks!
Gill
Gill- I have using the GF one from Blackbird Bakery by Karen Morgan.
I have been turning down the electronic input too to save my sanity. Glad you are creating a peaceful haven at Pie Cottage!
It’s my sanctuary.
I “unplug” more often since I find other activities to be much more fun, I’ve been doing it for years now. It’s way more relaxing in my opinion.
I enjoy company of friends, reading my books, talking to my sisters and of course baking. 🙂
I always find joy in my baking, plus, my friends and neighbors really like the goodies I give them. They even offer ideas on what I should bake next….LOL!
Have a nice day Kate!
In this ‘now’ world of alternative truths, baking does not surprise you with alternatives. It either works or it does not. I think I choose the absolutes. I don’t like the prospect of having to tip toe my way around the vast inadequacies of the news media to pull out the bits of truth.
News should be like pie crust. It either turns out or it doesn’t.
Kate, Thank you for your post. So true.
On Sat., to honor The March, I had friends over who could not attend The March and
made hand-pies with two little girls, 5 and 7. We shared Chili and corn bread and
Coconut Cake. Later in the day, friends who had gone to The March arrived, cold and
hungry and we shared the food and the news (and they watched on TV) that The March was going on around the world, not just in DC. They had no idea, as cellphones in DC
had overloaded the system in DC.
Gathering together and sharing food and pie. Amazing day.
Thank you for this …
Each day, so something kind for yourself. Do some thing kind for another person.
That is how we keep the darkness from swallowing us .
So true-I have been on anxiety overload. My head will explode soon if I don’t tune out.
I did march in CA-it was inspirational, peaceful, empowering and positive. But-I have to continue the involvement, somehow.
But for today-I will shop to make meals for my elderly in laws, cook to my hearts content.
I think I shall we begin with your chicken soup.
With my corgi at my side, some good music blaring-and a sigh of relief.
Cheers
This is a good reminder to turn down the noise and find comforting things to do. It also helps when I have to step back into the chaos…knowing there is a quiet place that I can go to and cook wonderful food, relax with music – makes the noise a little more tolerable. And me less brittle.