Cooking for Two.

I've come down to a conclusion that cooking, no matter how tired I am, can be rather peaceful and soothing to the mind. (Only wished the kitchen is a little bit bigger so I don't get real estate constrain and freak out when the vegetables and meat are getting contaminated due to close proximity.) I've just started on a detox program that will continue for the next 5 weeks where I'm slowly eliminating wheat and dairy products and introducing foods that are foreign to my palate. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner plus 2 mini snacks per day. It isn't a lot of work, just have to be more mindful of what I have in the pantry, and make sure everything is accounted for before I start.

So far, the new things I've made/tried are tofu nut butter (tofu, miso, almond butter blended together to become a paste-like hummus concoction), a walnut-infused pesto, and broccoli rabe. Each meal is like a journey of discovery and I'm most of the time proud of what I am capable of, because before I thought I cannot follow recipe/rules and screw up the taste. I'm quite laissez faire when it comes to cooking.....hmmm..on second thoughts, I'm free and easy to everything. :)

Though it took up 1/2 of my weekend last week to get all the ingredients for this week, it is worth it. My ability to cook has improved since 5 years ago in that unfortunate event with instant noodles at U of Iowa dormitory - Mayflower, where I had no idea how much water to put in the pot. If I can cook this much better today, why should I pay someone else for something that I can humbly prepare? If I have to pay for my meals, it must be something I admire and made of the freshest ingredients and come from the most talented minds.

I look forward to out of town friends visiting or the occasional dining out where indulging in 4 star Mexican cuisine, French Bistro, or mouth-watering Greek food makes me feel extremely bless for being born. As long as it is made well, I'll pay for it, even if it means going broke. Because when it comes to things that I put into my body, it must be nothing else but the best.

Oh, and being on this island where Grandpa's son, Alex, told me last weekend....."It will take one 4 years eating out every night at a new restaurant to try everything in NYC." I think I might be at the right place. I just need to have more dough.