Lane+D’s+2017+OpEd+Article

FOOD :-D By: Lane Domke COOKING IS FUN: Posin' with homemade mac&cheese and other good food with my friends

Everyone eats food everyday, its something all people need to move, to think, and to survive, but do they really appreciate food for the art that it is or the joy that it brings? Food is valued in most cultures, and is especially adored in America. Great food is cooked by chefs, which are very talented and put a lot of work into each dish. Assembling a meal is like creating a masterpiece. The grains are the background, the protein the focal point, vegetables and fruit provide the contrast, the dairy provides unity, and of course the sugar aspect brings in the finishing stokes and balance. The amount of energy that goes into the construction of a new dish by the chef is carefully thought out. The cook evaluates which flavors will blend harmoniously, which tastes complement each other, and what food will stand out among the rest. Cooking truly is art in which chefs everywhere can express themselves. I mean it's called "culinary arts" for goodness sake. When people are seen as artistic, one rarely thinks about chefs using food as an art form, but they too are artists.

In addition to chefs creating food in expensive five-star restaurants, there are cooks in everyday life: the average home chef. People tend to diminish the abilities of stay at home moms or dads saying they do nothing, but the ones who cook for their family surely put in work. My great grandmother used to cook everything, all day she made delicious food for her six children and husband. She made everything from fresh bread, to canned jam, to homemade ribbon candy, and she thought nothing of it. One time she taught me how to bake cinnamon rolls and they were absolutely delicious. Beforehand they seemed difficult to make, but in actuality were quite simple (you just need a whole lot of sugar and butter). That is the case with most staple food; it sounds complex but is really easy to make. But because of this misconception in today's times, if anyone were to make bread from scratch or home churned butter, their peers would be very impressed and shocked that they made these foods, rather than buying them at the grocery store. It seems like a lot of work to make these things, but it used to be a staple in every household. In this way, cooking has become a lost art.

Now-a-days I understand that not everyone has time to make items you can easily pick up from the store, but I do think it's crucial that everyone should be able to cook simple meals for themselves and their family. More and more families across the nation are going out to eat at fast food restaurants or buying unhealthy microwave meals instead of cooking simple dishes from home. This can cost a lot of unnecessary annual spending that can really add up in the long run. Instead, people should take the time to make food with their families and friends, even if it's just a classic grilled cheese sandwich. Recently, my hairdresser told me of how her sister called her asking how to make a quesadilla because she had never made one before. She is 30. She is married and has two children. Some people honestly do not know how to cook, but it is so fun and can be very easy! Learning how to create a few meals a week can become a healthy habit and lead to the end of the widespread inability to cook across the US. It is also a fun activity to do with friends, as I usually bake one thing a week with my friend Emma who also loves to cook (pictures below).

Another benefit to learning to cook besides saving money is the delicious food you can make. You can cook whatever you want, and find what food makes you the happiest. I know right now there is a huge health craze, all the lifestyle diets like all raw, vegan, juice cleanses, counting macros, and many more restrictive diets. These all claim to optimize your health and leaving you feeling fully energized and detoxify your body, but that does not mean everyone should hop on this bandwagon. Does consuming all these "super food" bring you joy? Are you //really// enjoying that chickpea-quinoa salad? Eating healthy all the time might give you a slim body and make you feel less groggy, but "unhealthy food" also refuels you in a different way. They feed you soul and fulfill your happiness, as well as taste amazing. Treating yourself with chocolate or a good ol' piece of pizza is okay, because food should make you happy, and a balanced diet is important for your health. So enjoy what you cook, and do it often! It will lead to happiness, is a way to express yourself, brings your family and friends closer together, and always results in a delectable outcome. And remember that it's not a crime to joyously devour a slice of homemade cake instead than forcefully swallow a bitter bunch of kale.

Caramel-Espresso Macarons with Emma and Noel - Fresh Rolls for "Friendsgiving" (Clayton devoured them) - The Classic Domke Christmas treat - Peppermint Bark

Gingerbread Cookie Decoarting to prepare for Xmas - FLUFFY PANCAKES for Sunday Breakfast with friends - Raspberry Granola Crumble for Breakfast with Enkela