When I was young, I spent a lot of time in the kitchen with my mom.
Every day, she prepared meals for eight hungry people, often with very little to work with. Most of the time, I would just watch as she’d mix, combine, stir, boil, and bake her way to yet another nutritious dinner for her family.
She always let me help in small ways - bringing her a bowl or a large spoon or an onion from the fridge. I was fascinated that she seemed to know exactly what she was doing without using a cookbook or recipe. And I often asked how she knew that it would turn out okay. She’d simply smile at me and stay focused on the task, without missing a beat.
Granted, by the time I joined the family (I was child number four of six), she’d had plenty of practice in prepping and serving meals. Still, I couldn’t help wonder how she made it look so easy to bake a cake from scratch without so much as glancing at a scribbled note, knowing it would turn out perfectly, as it always did.
And when it came to making a sweet treat, I was always by her side.
I’d watch her add a cup or two of flour into a bowl, then shake in a little salt, baking powder, and cinnamon without the benefit of a measuring spoon. She’d crack in a couple eggs, add oil or water or milk, and start stirring until the texture was just right. Finally, she’d pour the batter into a pre-greased pan and slide it into a pre-heated oven, without setting a timer.
When I asked my mom why she didn’t use a recipe, she’d tell me she cooked by instinct, the same way her mother and grandmother did. Basically, my mom was winging it, using the knowledge and wisdom she’d learned from those who passed before her to achieve the goal.
It seemed to me my mom’s method of being imprecise gave her precisely the result she wanted. And that seemed like an interesting way to view - and live - my life.
In health & happiness,
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Jill Reid is the author of Real Life, Discover Your Personal Truth, Life in Small Doses, and Please God, Make Me A Writer. Her books, videos, and newsletter explore life, relationships, self-improvement, health, and personal success strategies for working through the challenges of everyday life.