How to get your Cooking Groove On!

Cooking is an art, it is a place to relax into and enjoy. Food that is cooked by someone who loves cooking tastes better. Too often meals are cooked in a rush with the purpose of getting some sort of edible food on the table. Attention to detail is lost and the look, smell and presentation is ignored. This doesn't exactly make for a healthy and well digested meal.

There are a few things that come in our way of getting into the groove of cooking:

• Time. There is never enough, is there? And cooking from scratch takes so much time and thought and preparation. Or does it?
• Energy. There is never enough of that either, right? It takes way less energy to heat up a prepared meal or make something out of a box. But what does that food give back to us? How much energy to we get from it?
• Skills. It takes time (already lacking) to learn how to cook healthy food from scratch.
• Talent. You can either cook or you can't. Period.

Let me de-bunk these myths or stories, that's really all that they are. Myths and stories.

• Time. A tasty and healthy meal made from scratch can easily be on the table in under 30 minutes. If you use this cooking time to relax you will feel good when you sit down to eat and will be less prone to wasting time. Find time where it is hidden, such as at the tv, internet, facebook then shift your schedule to fit in dinner. Sometimes prepping the next night's dinner the night before is helpful.
• Energy. When you let your body relax, have a cup of tea and snack on some raw veggies while you cook you will gain energy. When you eat a nutrient filled meal with lots of fresh produce, healthy grains and a moderate amount of protein you will have more energy. When you eat live food your body will thrive. Live food means whole, unrefined and fresh not out of a box.
• Skills. Once you cook a few recipes and find your favourites you will be improvising and cooking with skill. A cooking class is always an option and it is a good way to connect with others and really have fun cooking.
• Talent. Cooking is something that can be learned like anything. It's not about being the best cook. Just keep it simple and let yourself be creative. Period.

Getting started:

• Find some great and simple recipes. Try one or two new recipes a week so that you don't get overwhelmed. Get some free ones here (scroll down) or sign up for monthly recipes, meal plans and shopping lists. Make it easy.
• Make sure your kitchen is well stocked with staple ingredients. Also make sure knifes are sharpened, gadgets are easily accessible and you have all the gadgets you need.
• Schedule time into your day to cook and prep ingredients.
• Get inspired by shopping at farmer's markets. Find an ingredient that you are unfamiliar with and ask the farmer how they cook it. Or put it in the comment box and ask me.
• Invite friends over for dinner or brunch. Make it a potluck so you don't have to do it all and can enjoy making one simple dish.
• Turn on some high energy music to get your groove on! I like CBC Radio 2 Drive for cooking to, followed by Tonic for dinner music. This song by Serena Ryder is definitely for groovin' and cookin' to.
• Have fun with presentation and garnishes. Get some fun new serving bowls. These are pretty.
• Let others know that this is your time and if they want to help great (if you want the help). If they want to steal you away for other things, too bad. It can wait.
• Take a few deep breathes before you get started and take your mind off of work and into the kitchen where cooking with love and joy happens!

What helps you get your cooking groove on? Leave a comment to inspire others. enJOY!