42 FEBRUARY 2025 I t has been said that cooking is like painting or writing a song. To most folks the kitchen is either heaven or hell – there is no in-between. The kitchen gives voices to folk’s moral positions and religious values. Even mundane activities and conversations come alive with little effort. Through creating dishes from scratch, solace, inspiration, self-expression, and endless possibilities present themselves in one room. Cooking with intention, practicing mindfulness and compassion and being present in the process of the meals you choose to prepare is liberating. It’s not simply fuel, but a sacred appreciation for the nourishment it can provide us. Get a little crazy and visualize the magic coming from your fingertips as you prepare the meal, harness the kindness and love, then stir it all together! It’s so important to create a space that feels like a calm, inspiring sanctuary. It’s not about size, cost, or having stainless-steel appliances. It’s about the energy and the way you feel inside your kitchen. Place a few treasures around that remind you of people dear to you. Photos of family, a copy of mom’s favorite recipes organized into a spiral cookbook or a tea towel inscribed with thoughtful sentiments hung on an oven door can touch your heart at the most unexpected moments. That feeling of warmth and safety in a kitchen can often go as far back as childhood. You knew that somebody would always be in or around the kitchen, and this is what you still believe as an adult. When you have warmth and safety surrounding you, you feel you can achieve anything. This is the power of the kitchen, and this is the strength it has in a family home. A lot can happen in the kitchen. You can find that one minute you will be discussing politics and world events, and the next minute you can be dancing to your favorite song. The comfort that comes from food prepared in a kitchen is hard to replicate. It’s one of those rooms that’s always welcoming. It’s a versatile space. Around the kitchen table, stories filled with laughter and tears can be shared; plans for the family can be made. One of my favorite ways to show love is to cook. Preparing meals daily can feel like a thankless task with the endless shopping, cooking and cleaning up for a meal that gets consumed in minutes. Time always seems to be of the essence and in many households both parents work, meaning there really isn’t much time to focus on meal preparation. To cook a meal is to perform a task that has an immediate effect. When so many ways of caring can be invisible, misconstrued, or take time to come to fruition, there’s a comfort in doing something that you can feel, smell, and taste right away. Symbiotic pleasure is the best kind. Cooking is an art and a masterpiece. It can be fun and easy or hard and challenging. Cooking has opened my eyes and my heart to a lot of different foods. Never would lentils, arugula, and tomatillos be considered flavorful additions, but now they are indispensable! Cooking motivates me to try different cuisines and ingredients. One can’t ignore the magic behind the scenes – the aroma of fresh celery, basil, cilantro, lemongrass, the pungency of fresh garlic. Cooking holds a special place in my heart, offering a source of joy and empowerment. During life’s uncertainties, kitchens become a sanctuary. With a focus on creativity, cooking has become a therapeutic journey that continues to nourish both body and soul. My German grandmother’s tiny kitchen was the heartbeat of my existence. Gram’s act of service was her love language. All the intimacy of our three-generation family was wrapped up in batches of chop suey, pork chops with dressing, goulash, lemon meringue, apple pie and cookies. If heaven could be a kitchen, then bringing back quiet tranquility could once again be discovered through the harmony felt with food. Cooking holds a transformative power when shared with others. I extend my appreciation and love by cooking for those dear to me. It is a mutual exchange of care and gratitude where the act of creating something from scratch holds immeasurable value. Each bite is an invitation to experience the world and, of course, there’s no holding back the telling of the crazy stories behind every dish. Through sharing and learning about food, meaningful connections are made allowing insight into the lives and passions of others. Be reminded that there’s no way around several hours of slicing, marinating, and preparing the items purchased. The chemistry of these things fitting together becomes deeply soothing. What could be better than watching someone take their first bite of something you poured your entire days’ worth of emotions into? To know how someone else takes their coffee or tea: milk or sugar or lemon – is a small and delightful act of caring. February’s cookbook recommendation: “Cook, Eat, Repeat” by Nigella Lawson February’s novel recommendation: “The Book of Love” by Kathleen McGowan February’s recipe: Black Forest Brownies I’d like to think that heaven is just a really big kitchen Thyme in My Kitchen BY SHERRY KLUSMAN thyme.in.my.kitchen I’d like to think that heaven is just a really big kitchen WE HAVE MOVED 4600 E Shea Blvd | Suite 100 | Phoenix, AZ 85028 NW corner Tatum and Shea | West of Trader Joes 602.955.8700 • FPSAZ.com IN PRACTICE CELEBRATING EXPERT DOCTORS AND PRACTITIONERS. CONVENIENT SERVICES. EXTENDED HOURS. Our Family Caring for Yours