Today holds the potential for imaginative resolution!

I’ve been dating potential for several years. I get giddy when I see the word in writing. I’m hoping to have the courage to commit but I occasionally still flirt with lack.

What do you think of the word wallow? It makes me uncomfortable. The context I jump to when hearing it is wallowing in one’s emotion(tears). While crying can be very cathartic and cleansing, I feel that wallowing implies we are spending too much time on our emotions and should be getting over it. What if it was okay to wallow. What if we appreciated anothers need for strong emotions and time to sit with them? What if wallowing was a sort of emotional bath that helps us settle into ourselves and cleanse. Pigs wallow in the mud and they appear joyful.

I think there are stages of tasting when getting to know a food. To really appreciate a fruit or vegetable it’s important to know it’s characteristics.

Stage 1: Pick it, wipe it off, bite into it

What qualities do you notice? Juicy, firm, bitter, sweet, salty, crunchy, fragrant….

Do the qualities change as you chew? Start off biiter and end sweet

Stage 2: slice it thin and sprinkle with sea salt

What flavors does the salt enhance?

Stage 3: Experiment with fats.

Which fat pairs well, enhancing but not overpowering?

For example, butter or ghee balance the flavors of a radish while olive oil brings out the spiciness so that you can't taste other flavors.

Drizzle some different fats on your vegetable and taste.

Stage 4: Roast in the oven

Pair with the fat you’ve chosen and bake at 425 for around 30 minutes.

This will give you an idea of the ideal flavors when cooked.

Once you understand the flavor profile and know how to enhance the flavor on it’s own, without sauces or condiments, you will have freedom in your kitchen. No need to depend on recipes. Simple food can be complex and delicious.