I grew up in a home where my Mam, (Mamusia) did all the cooking. Food was love & the heart of the home. She was always in the kitchen preparing meals. We ate homemade soup daily, and had a nutritious meal afterwards. I remember the huge pot my Mam (Mamusia) used to cook soup.  By the end of the day the pot was empty. She would start making soup all over again the next morning. My husband finds this amusing as I have followed in her footsteps. In the winter months, I wake up on the weekend and start preparing rosol, (bone broth), cutting vegetables and letting the bones boil for a few hours.

I never cooked growing up at home, but did help my Mam(Mamusia). I would wash the vegetables, cut, measure, grind the meat for the perogies, and hand her the food she needed at the precise moment. She preferred that we watch, which I did, learn and pay attention as she cooked and prepared meals for seven people. She was a cooking machine. The kitchen belonged to her and we knew it. She could make a meal out of the anything anytime.
Now at the age of 97, my Mam (Mamusia) often says that she’s earned her right to have her food served and cooked for her. I agree 100% . Is she happy with the meals, well… most times.

So then, how did I learn to cook? I like to believe through osmosis. I watched, remembered and later in life applied all that I learned and observed. When I moved out on my own, I just knew how to cook. To this day I am passionate about cooking, trying new recipes, and enjoy sharing my skills, knowledge, and healthy eating habits with my family, friends, and clients. Watching my Mam cook, and helping her in the kitchen preparing the food helped me develop a positive relationship with food.

In our home I do all the cooking, and my husband bakes. It works out well for us.

So, how are the boys learning how to cook? The same way I did, through observing, remembering, preparing food, asking questions, and helping out little by little.

Spending time in the kitchen with family is not only about recipes and ingredients. It strengthens family bonds, helps children develop motor skills, teaches valuable life skills, encourages healthy eating habits, and fosters a family connection. Passing along cooking skills to the next generation is a great way to share family traditions, build memories, and ensure that culinary skills, ability and knowledge is maintained.

Smell, Taste, Enjoy. Be Mindful of the Food You Eat

Research links

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24709485/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33573994/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10657997/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22578854/