When the passion fizzles

With any great love affair there can come a time when things can fizzle out. Well, I have lost my passion for food.

I have always been a foodie. I have great memory recall and remember specific times as a young child trying new foods for the first time. I had a Grandma that made everything homemade and from scratch. I clearly recall the taste of her egg noodles with chicken soup and hot waffles with sausage and eggs.

I remember the first time I tried oatmeal from a package. I was three years old and we were at a friend of my mother's house. I think we were staying there and one morning we had apple cinnamon oat meal.

At five I tasted fried veggie sticks in the school cafeteria and I have many, many more memories of my first tastes of food.

Not too long ago when I was having trouble conceiving my third child, I discovered my passion for cooking. To relieve stress I would make two or three loaves of bread everyday. I was a dedicated fan of the food shows and owned over fifty cook books. I would research exotic dishes at the library and put my own spin on them when I could not find the ingredients I needed at local markets.

I used to have a pretty sophisticated palate for someone who was not well traveled and cooked things I wanted to try on my own. Now I eat chips and salsa for lunch. For three days in a row I had the hubby go to the local Mexican Taqueria to buy me chicken tacos with corn tortillas for dinner. Granted, these are some great tacos, and one of the only ready made foods I can eat at a restaurant-but I miss cooking!

I think I am having a food mid-life crisis. I created this blog in the hopes that it would force me to get excited again. My kids love my cooking and have actually been complaining that I have not cooked all week. They are sick of Chick fil A and say their poor little tummies are hurting from all the junk food.

I miss my love affair with food. I miss that enthusiasm I had. And, I want. it. back.

I vow to research this weekend and at least try two new dishes using foods safe for me. I want at least one Wow! And one Ohhh, from the family. I want the feeling of peace I had that I was helping to provide good and nutritional meals for my family. I know I am very fortunate to have the luxury of being able to cook for my family, I am fortunate in so many, many ways in spite of these allergies. There are people that are much more restricted than I am.

I vow to get back that loving feeling!!!