Cooking

I have been posting a lot of recipes on my new instagram (@fitmommafashion)

They are all healthy, KETO inspired and fresh! Most of all they are mostly mine. Its amazing to me how some people can cook, like REALLY cook. And how some can boil water for pasta and still mess it up. So whats my story? Which am I? So here goes....

Growing up, we had a live in housekeeper. She cooked, she cleaned, she did everything my mom didn't. My mom worked, but always owned her own business so she was able to be home for important things. My dad also worked, but was home, same deal. So I guess I never noticed that my mother never taught me to cook. I think by the time I got to college I could make grilled cheese and eggs. I cooked dinner for my college boyfriend and I thought I was a pro because I made asparagus with Hollandaise sauce (from a jar!) 

When I moved into the city after living back at home for a while, my roommate and I usually ordered out. Or she would make pasta and chicken. Easy right? That was until I started dating my now husband. I remember vividly his mother saying to me at his sisters' bridal shower when I was asked to bring a recipe and I had no idea what to write. She said "my poor son!" And I was like Oh no, should I learn how to cook? 

So I did on my own. I started by watching cooking shows on the Food Network, I googled recipes, and I collected them from my bridal shower and made a book. I used to "cook" on Sunday nights only. It started very elaborate - stuffed chicken, fingerling potatoes, Lobster pasta, you name it, I tried to make it. Please don't remind me of one Superbowl when I attempted to make wings. haha. 

By the time my son came along, the cooking got better and more frequent. I cooked during the week, Monday through Friday and then stopped on the weekends. I started to get staple meals that I didn't need a recipe for, baked ziti, chicken parm, turkey chili, turkey lasagna.... there were definite usual meals. My husband craves carbs so I made a ton of it for them.

After I had my daughter, I started kicking into overdrive and cooking healthy. Now I make everything healthy during the week. I still do the carbs for my kids and my husband. But I don't eat rice or pasta or bread for dinner. Id rather have zoodles, spaghetti squash, acorn squash, Cauliflower pizza, fish with roasted veggies.... they all keep me satisfied and happy. 

But now when I cook, I still do google and use pinterest, but I love it. I make a shopping list over the weekend and I love going to the grocery store on Monday. I sometimes get inspired while walking down the aisles. And its fun. I have the right spices, oils, pans, utensils in my house. (unlike my mom who has one pan, one spatula and no tupperware, wtf!?)

So it just goes to show you - you can adapt to ANY environment. I am a house wife, a mother, a chef, a chauffeur, a problem solver, event planner, gym rat, personal shopper, activity curator, bedtime expert, house cleaner, laundry doer, doctor and dog walker. I learned how to cook because it was part of who I became. And it makes me feel happy to know that I don't need to rely on someone else to nourish myself especially being self taught. 

How did you learn to cook?