Kat in the kitchen - it begins

I have been wanting to start this page for a little while... but to be honest was a bit hesistant. Mainly because I didn't know where to start... there were so many questions whirring around in my head, so many different ways that I could start this, so many different angles I could take... in the end I had far too many options that I just didn't start it... until now. It's the curse of the procrastinator - to research too much and then get overwhelmed! Argh- it's a daily vexation!

Anyway the main motivation for starting this blog was to intially help with my thesis. I am currently studying for my Masters of Applied Anthropology at Macquarie University, Sydney. I am doing my thesis on cooking as a catalyst for the maintenance of social relationships.

I think that I loved cooking from a young age as it was a way to spend time with mother and father who were both great cooks (also got me out of washing up some of the time!). The times that I spent with them in the kitchen really established my relationship with my parents and got me interested in different food cultures.

Now as an adult I see cooking as a way to express the way that I felt about the person I cooked for. This became really apparent while I was vegetarian and I would cook meat for my sisters (just the way that mum used to make it) when we all lived in London.

I recently sent out an email to some family and friends asking them to send me back answers to some questions. I really wanted to get some ideas about how other people view cooking. I asked them to give me stories about their cooking experiences

I asked them to think about things like the following:

- What food you cook on a first date?
- What food you cook for your husband/wife/partner?
- What food do you cook for friends?
- What food that you would like to cook?
- What kind of food to you think that they would like you to cook?
- Do you feel bad if you can’t cook?
- Was there a time that you cooked something special for someone and they didn’t understand that it was special?
- What food do you only cook for yourself?
- Is there a special meal that you cook? What occasion do you cook it?
- Was there a time which you felt proud about your cooking? Why?
- Do you ever get angry about the food you cook?

I would absolutely LOVE it if you would like to do the same and send me some stories about your cooking successes (or failures!) and your general views on food and who your share your cooking with.

Looking forward to hearing from you.... how very exciting! I have started a blog!

K