Forced Creativity

A year or so into our marriage, I began to start branching out in the food arena, due mostly to the influence of a college friend who was lucky enough to be born into a family where cooking was considered a creative outlet. This friend also wore lovely wool cardigans from the thrift store and smelled of ginger and lemongrass. She moved in with another friend of mine, just down the street from us. I'd go over to their apartment on a Friday night and she'd cook. Watching my friend move around the kitchen; opening up cabinets, stirring pots, checking timers, like some intricately choreographed dance, I began to want to dance like her too.

     And so I started to practice at home. It was fun. Suddenly our weeknight dinners became a little more exciting...something to look forward to. I borrowed recipes and little by little started making more bold choices in the kitchen. Now, I'm not saying that everything was amazing or anything. I specifically remember, in fact, one evening that we ended up eating Dairy Queen for dinner because the dinner I intended to make ended up in burnt chunks all over the inside of our oven.

     I also began practicing with friends. There were about 5 of us and when our boyfriends/husbands were out playing video games at Dave and Busters we'd all get together to cook. There was a catch, however. You had to bring an item or two from your pantry to add to the list of ingredients. Once gathered together, we'd take a look at what was assembled and then would begin to create. It was great. We'd have to improvise, to take risks. It was a kind of forced creativity. And it was always very, very interesting. Being together meant more points of view and more room to grow and to be stretched. (This is also a great way to stretch your "end of the month" grocery dollars. Who knew that can of diced tomatoes and half a jar of natural peanut butter could turn into a fabulous Thai dish!) 
     Experimenting is part of the game. If you choose to try this exercise with some of your friends, be open and let the gathered ingredients guide the dish. Sometimes a box of whole-wheat crackers, a mango, a handful of spinach, leftover chicken and some vegetable broth can morph into the most wonderful deliciousness. And sometimes not. But you are sure to enjoy the evening and come home with stories that will make you smile later the next day as you are pouring your morning coffee.