What Inspires You To Cook?

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Posted by Theresa111 • 8/05/10
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What drives you to wander bookstore or library aisles searching for cookbooks or magazines that offer culinary ideas?

What turns you on about food and preparing it? Do you cook just for necessity or is there a deep-seated root planted from days long past?

Do you enjoy entertaining? What inspires you to cook?

Cooking Inspirations, sharing, Your Reasons To Cook

Discussion Replies

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Theresa111 (8/05/10)

I love to eat and since there are so many foods for us to enjoy, I believe it is intended for us to enjoy the art of cooking and eating. Otherwise there would be only berries and nuts to pick and gobble.

I like taking ingredients and turning them into something else. I find combinations of foods make something new.

I really like to share meals because of the enjoyment others get from tasting my dishes.

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sugarpies (8/06/10)

To me it's a creative outlet. I enjoy trying out new recipes and techniques and sharing the results with those I love. I also enjoy the sense of accomplishment and peace it gives me to prepare a new dish that others enjoy. I've found cooking to actually be relaxing in a lot of ways and do most of my baking in the middle of the night since I am a chronic insomniac (something I share with my late mother).

Recently, I got a new impetus to bake on a larger scale once a week when I hooked up with a local woman who feeds homeless people in a local park twice a week. She's such a caring person and she won me over immediately. So, I'm now making some sort of dessert/treat for her efforts each week. This was my first week and I made 4 dozen muffins for her to take with her.

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  Theresa111 (8/06/10)
  
  You are a Prince among men and bakers, Buck! Hugs!
  
  Your idea of baking in the wee hours is something I will try as soon as the heat gets a little lower. this has been a scorching summer to remember. One of the hottest ever recorded.
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Theresa111 (8/09/10)

Looking in my cookbooks or food magazines, recipes or watching the FoodTV Channel. Inspiration to cook is everywhere.

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Theresa111 (8/10/10)

My surge of hunger helps me decide what I will choose to prepare. It is most satisfying when one is allowed to eat what they crave.

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Theresa111 (8/12/10)

My love of food and the excitement and promise the kitchen holds.

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Theresa111 (8/14/10)

I just got (in the mail), on my birthday, yesterday, Buck Bannister's new cookbook. it is so lovely, too! I wrote a post about if here:

skdd.wordpress.com/2010/08/14/the-legacy-of-buck-bannister/

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  sugarpies (8/17/10)
  
  You're so sweet! I'm so glad you liked it!
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  Theresa111 (8/17/10)
  
  You're so sweet that's why it's so darned good!
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Theresa111 (8/15/10)

Rainy and cloudy days.

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Theresa111 (8/15/10)

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LadyGourmet (8/15/10)

The variety of tastes that there are to experience. I think up, out of nowhere, different combinations of flavors and just want to try them.

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  Theresa111 (8/16/10)
  
  Exactly. Like I thought about taking a needle with cocktail or tarter sauce inside, and after breading shrimp, infusing the sauce inside the shrimp, just before frying them. I haven't tried it yet, perhaps because I don't have a syringe.
  
  I can see it now. ** Setting: The Pharmacy Counter: Me: Um ... I'd like a box of syringes please. Pharmacist: "Why do you want them again?" Me: "Ah ... um ... to use in my kitchen." Pharmacist reaches for the telephone and dials "911" Me: "I've got to go now." I leave **
  
  This is the reason I haven't tried my idea out. I think it would be delicious and the shrimp is already sauced. I'll see if I can figure this out, ooh! maybe a piping bag with a small tip and fill the shrimp as I would Pâte à Choux. Brilliant!!
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LadyGourmet (8/17/10)

I also like to cook on rainy, cool days. Something about a rainy day that inspires me. I guess I am like that song and love rainy days.

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  Theresa111 (8/17/10)
  
  "Rainy Days and Mondays" ? ... always make me cook ... Could be the new ending of the line.
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cheftom (8/17/10)

Usually just hunger! lol But I do notice I cook more when I'm stressed. I also love to create good meals for those I care about.

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LadyGourmet (8/17/10)

Hunger is when I tend to grab and not eat what is best or the tastiest. I also try not to shop when I am hungry. It is true you do not make wise choices.

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Theresa111 (8/19/10)

Photographs of food makes my mind start thinking about trying something in the kitchen.

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Theresa111 (8/24/10)

Going to the library tomorrow and I certainly will stroll down the cookbook aisles for inspiration.

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chinagal9 (8/30/10)

Scanning the pages of the sales flyer from our local grocery store or just plain hunger. My hubby requesting a specific food works really well, too.

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  Theresa111 (8/30/10)
  
  I get some coupons from the newspaper inserts, but mostly I give them to my downstairs neighbor as she has four little ones. they are so cute.
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  chinagal9 (8/31/10)
  
  Theresa, that's great you share the coupons with a family with little ones. In our newspaper inserts, there are mostly coupons for prepared foods, not for foods I would purchase. Fortunately, our local grocery store supplies a flyer with the weekly specials.
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  Theresa111 (9/01/10)
  
  Yes, as does ours. Soon it will be time to fill brown bags with food for our church families who are experiencing difficulties. We give weekly, but you know, everyone seems to be stretching their $$. It is nice to know every little bit helps.
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sugarpies (9/01/10)

I mentioned the homeless project I've been baking for recently... here's a TV spot about it and the woman who does it: www.kvoa.com/news/tucson-woman-making-a-difference-for-the-hungry

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  Theresa111 (9/01/10)
  
  The video did not play but I should like to make a cash donation if you can email me a paypal invoice for $25.00 and what it is for, (for the IRS) this way she can use the funds for what she and they need.
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  sugarpies (9/12/10)
  
  You can read about her at: karin-feedingthehomeless.blogspot.com/
  
  Also if anyone wants to make donations they can be sent to:
  
  L. Karin Elliott
  3364 E. Popinac Loop
  Tucson, AZ 85716
  
  She doesn't have PayPal or anything at present.
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  Theresa111 (9/12/10)
  
  Thanks Buck.
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Theresa111 (9/12/10)

Going through recipes here on HHM gets me in the mood to try different dishes.

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chinagal9 (9/14/10)

Returning home from a vacation and not cooking at all for a few days. That does it every time!

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LadyGourmet (9/14/10)

I just like to combine different flavors and see my kids enjoy it. I am very thankful for the blessing to be able to enjoy all these wonderful dishes and see their faces, their eyes widen and say, "um". That inspires me.

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  chinagal9 (9/15/10)
  
  You are also teaching your kids healthy eating patterns. Those are lessons to last for when they graduate from HS and are off to college &/or living/working on their own. They will also be able to cook after watching you - even if you did not realize they were paying attention.
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  Theresa111 (9/16/10)
  
  Chinagal9 is absolutely correct in this aspect. Good habits tend to stay with the kids.
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LadyGourmet (9/16/10)

I certainly hope so. I hope that they will make good choices.

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  Theresa111 (9/16/10)
  
  I believe they will follow your lead and have great futures!
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  sugarpies (9/17/10)
  
  Sometimes it takes awhile for them to come back to their roots... as in my case. But, I think anyone taught to cook well as a kid eventually gets in the kitchen.
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Theresa111 (9/18/10)

I went searching through my Living, National Geographic and two Bon Appetit Magazines, all of them new. I got inspired and found out that there is live.gourmet.com which I am going to check out.

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Theresa111 (9/18/10)

Today on Oprah there were two women from Cape Cod who started there very own chicken pot pie and other pie eatery. Seating 18 diners. Anyway, they are now going to have their pies features on Harry & David's catalog and H&D are going to help manufacture and sell their pies. What a cool deal, Plus, these ladies employ people who live with challenges and helping to support their group through donations It is such a cool deal! Check out Sept 17th show.

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Theresa111 (9/21/10)

www.halfhourmeals.com/food-for-thought/doughnut-balls-with-strawberry-sauce...

Food For Thought Brand New Post!

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Theresa111 (10/02/10)

Other cooks inspire me to cook. I love visiting member's blogs to get a real feel for their world and kitchens. I really enjoy seeing the way they prepare their regional dishes. And even though I may never eat some of the meals they write about, I can appreciate the interest and love they put into every plate, because a cook usually cooks with heart.

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Theresa111 (10/06/10)

Food Channel is always inspiring. TOnight there is Foodography on the Cooking Channel. Puff pastry and lots of pastries to watch. Now they are talking about filo dough. Ummmmm

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Theresa111 (10/07/10)

Today it was a thick porterhouse steak and five mushrooms. Wow!

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