My Cooking Story

Days after resuming college, the pot of soup mum had helped me prepare finished, despite my efforts to prevent this. Unimaginable is the worry that coursed through me as I wondered how I was going to survive with my ‘next to bad’ culinary skills.

I immediately opted to making and eating fried plantains and eggs, which I remember mum used to make and eat a lot, as this combo used to be her favourite dish. As I had no friends to help me out and neither was I used to ‘eating out’, I kept on eating this, even though improperly made and disgruntled looking.

Not long after this, I decided it was time to try to cook something other than fries. With the help of the internet and a mental push, I bought some ingredients and set about cooking my very own meal. Oh what outcomes stemmed from these:

1. I realised the internet is more like a guide-book; it only tells you the ‘how-to’ of certain topics. Never rely solely on information gotten there. Rather, seek one who has a practical understanding of the topic in question and learn from such.

2. I knew and got to accept the fact that I was a good Cook of bad, improperly made meals. Improperly made meals I had to sustain myself with.

3. I became an expert in hoarding meals from those who came visiting whilst extending their friendship. For a long while, visitors were not entertained, as I tried to forestall their labelling me a ‘bad Cook’; a fact I already knew and tried to jealously guard.

Several months into college, I decided to seek solution to this deficiency. I accepted the fact that I needed help, I came out to some people about how l needed culinary help, I watched many whilst they cooked, I still consulted the internet for tips, after one elderly colleague insisted on eating my meal, I started looking for opportunities to let more people do same. Since I was determined to avoid the ‘bad Cook’ label and as I got tips for improvement from some; whether solicited for or not, my meals did taste better. More importantly I never stopped; asking for help when stuck, accepting constructive criticism, trying new recipes, being creative or learning.

At home where I previously did little or no cooking, I now look out for opportunities to be in the Kitchen to make something nutritious for the family to take.

Right now, I am no chef but I am getting pretty good at making nourishing and delectable meals

https://youtu.be/LLHa8-c1vlc