Once Upon A Time, I Couldn’t Cook…

One major positive of being sick, unemployed and housebound for over a year now, is being given the time to learn how to cook.

And, let me be the first to tell you how thankful I am.

I come from a big Italian family; a Mother who cooks incredible dishes spanned over all cultures, a Dad who can magically create something tasty using the fewest ingredients, a sister who studied to become a Chef and a Nonna who has been cooking for the entire extended family for many, many years.

I, did not inherit the ‘talented with food’ gene, but when I fell ill I did not want to rely on my Mother cooking two different meals for our family after a long day’s work – (my diet was very different in the initial illness days. Bland, mashed vegetables and ‘gluten free’).

I remember sitting at the dinner table, overlooking my Mother in the kitchen one day. I was too dizzy to stand, to walk. I asked her what she was making, and she laughed in my face because I had never shown an interest before. I rose from my chair and dragged it closer to her; and this is where the lessons began.

A year on, I have mastered her famous Lasagne, Chicken Snitzel and Potato Salad. We have made treats that I could eat, and then we made treats (a lot of them) that I could only look at.

I have grown from burnt toast, to scrambled eggs, to… THIS:

a Raw Vegan Blueberry Cheesecake!

   
 
Lucky for me, it can be frozen for up to twelve months; and as I am currently incredibly ill with a throat and chest infection (on top of the usual symptoms), this means I can still enjoy it… And all year round!

Little steps, my friends. Little steps.

I have books filled with recipes and cutouts of recipes all over my room; all waiting to be made.

If you aren’t a great cook yourself, and are in similar health circumstances to myself, give it a go! No needs to buy a Beginner’s Cookbook when you have the internet at your fingertips!

If someone told me two years ago that I made that cake, I’d probably laugh in their face.

In this moment, I’m really proud of myself.