I am
Warm Creamy Bowls of Oats
After my morning errands I visited the local gym and spotted a lone treadmill basked in the sun near a open dusty window. I knew the fall crisp air would do me good so I got on. My treadmill time is often used to read spiritually enlightening material while ignoring the overly excited early morning shows but there was already an abandoned magazine sitting promptly on the machine. I pushed the red button for more incline and started to flip through."You are what I eat" was the article I was drawn to, little did I know it was about to open my mind to new creative thoughts.
I am
Vanilla Italian Waffles
The article was written by an pregnant mother and her journey through eating. She made it her mission to "make" her unborn child with the foods that held the most memories in her life. Through her long past mother's desserts to her kind friend's fish sandwiches, she wanted her child to be made through the bits and pieces of her loved one's favorite foods. To simply put it, they were the "ingredients" and she was making the "recipe" for another being. Without telling too much, the story had beautiful symbolism and its a must read.
I am
Earth's Candy
Once I was done with my daily exercise limit the question "What am I made of?" weighed heavily on my mind. Stories swirled of my once young pregnant mother and her food choices. Memories of salty pretzels dipped in mustard, hot peppery scrambled eggs and bowls of raisin bran were bought up. I was made of salty pretzels dipped in mustard my mother ate while she shopped for my first pair of shoes. I was made of hot peppery scrambled eggs that my mother ate when morning sickness bounded her to bed the last four months before my birth. I was endless bowls of raisin bran that were consumed while my mother learned how to attain the adequate amount of iron for both of us to thrive. My mother was making a recipe for nine months while she decorated my baby room with white bears and balloons. That is who I was. And those ingredients are still a huge part of who I am today but I couldn't stop thinking about "what am I made of now?", what is my recipe today?
I am
A Cup of Roasted Vanilla Coffee
My first inclination was to think of the past...to criticize how I once ate, the eating disordered monster always tries be the center of attention. I fought it and focused on the question in my present life. "What am I made of now?".
I am
Sweet Potato's Baked with Coconut Oil and Cinnamon
Grounding myself in the present I thought of the first day I became vegetarian while visiting the "happiest place in the world". I ate a thin crust spinach goat cheese pizza with a warm walnut salad while peering from a high balcony in the cool spring air.
I am
A Friend's Gesture of Kindness
I thought of the first day of summer and that big bite I once took of a nutty hemp bagel I tried with sprouts and heirloom tomatoes. How the pesto sauce was dripping all over the plate while I washed it down with a icy cup of homemade tart lemon aid.
I am
Polenta Cakes with Herb Egg Salad
I thought of stopping on the side of the road to buy a box of frosted cupcakes just because the company's name was beyond adorable and the red velvet cupcakes looked sinfully delicious. Going home that night we cut each cupcake open strategically... lemon vanilla, red velvet, and chocolate raspberry.
I am
Father's Homemade Cinnamon Swirl French Toast
I thought of that the weekend I woke up two hours early just to make crepes like our mother made to comfort my little sister. The velvet like texture of the crepe stuffed with sticky mash banana and dusted with powder sugar snow filled her heart with love. We of course shared a huge plate while watching Saturday morning cartoons.
I am
Saturday Morning Pancakes
I embody all the memories that those foods held, I am the finished product of a recipe I've made this year. And next year I will start again. What a beautiful way to look at food and life.
What is the ingredient list for your recipe?
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