"Celebration of Food" starts next week

Although I've never thought of this as a food blog, when you get down to it, it really is all about food -- planning for it, growing it, preparing it, and finally, eating it. This next Sunday, my family will be presenting the service at our church. We'll be talking about "The Spirituality of Eating." When I made the suggestion to my husband, he said to me, "People are going to think that food is the only thing you ever think about." I laughed. He really did have me figured out a long time ago. In 1988, we went on a cruise, and I was emphatic about making it to all the meals and snacks served on board. In exasperation one afternoon, he said to me, "The difference between you and me is that I eat to live; you live to eat." I couldn't disagree. So, I like food. No, I'm more like the food critic in Ratatoulle who said, "I don't like food. I love food. And if I don't love it, I don't swallow," when someone asked him how a food critic could be skinny.

There were times in my life when I just shoveled it in, thinking about nothing more than filling my belly. But as I've grown older, I've become pickier in many ways. For example, I don't like conventionally grown zucchini, because with its thin skin, it absorbs the bitter taste of chemicals sprayed on it. I often wonder how many people would love raw zucchini if they had ever tasted organic.

But I digress. As I've been doing research for our church service next Sunday, I've been reading a lot about people's relationships with food, and it's been interesting. So, rather than forcing our congregation to sit through hours of readings and musings, I thought it would be better for everyone, including my blogpals, if I used a lot of that fodder here on the blog.

Starting next Monday, I'll spend the week writing about food and gratitude, time management, organization, and a host of other things to address reasons why so many Americans don't eat as well as they know they should.

The following week, I'm going to put all the musings into action. I'll post my menu for the week, along with a shopping list. Then day by day, I'll talk about how it all works in real life. After all, you know what they say about "the best laid plans."

I wanted to get this post up early, so that all of you could let me know if there are any particular challenges that you face when it comes to cooking or eating healthier, so I can address those over the next couple weeks. People are often telling me, "It's great that you eat so well, but I never could do that." Okay, why not?

So, what's with the picture up at the top? That was dessert for yesterday's lunch. Although it tasted heavenly, the texture wasn't quite perfect, so you're not getting the recipe just yet. Cooking really is fun -- even when you mess up.