Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Preparing a large baking dish full of diced, minced, shredded vegetables.... for the oven... cause I like to snack as well! ha ha

Am I weird? I do not like to eat and watch a food show or read a cookbook. I like to do one or the other. Somehow when I combine them, I ignore the food I am eating, moreso than a regular tv show or book. Its like the virtual flavors take control.

As for therapy, cleaning. I organize and wash the kitchen and pantry. I also look through cookbooks.

I forgot--I love those shopping trips that don't include lists of things like toilet bowl cleaner and laundry soap, especially when I'm in a hurry. You know, those market visits that allow for leisurely trips down the foreign food aisle, into the cheese display and forays into the spice, produce and cracker sections to see what's new. Those kinds of shopping trips not only can clear a mind that's swimming, they can also spark some imagination.

Brunoise.

"@CJ McD--I am with you too about reading about food. Sometimes that is good enough for me. I love to pull out a cookbook or read foodblogs particularly if they are food items that are out of my league...for now!!
BigMan says that if I cooked as much as I read about cooking it would be all over cause we would be so huge."

@PoorOldMama- I have found a kindred spirit.

@CJ McD--I am with you too about reading about food. Sometimes that is good enough for me. I love to pull out a cookbook or read foodblogs particularly if they are food items that are out of my league...for now!!
BigMan says that if I cooked as much as I read about cooking it would be all over cause we would be so huge.

Bread baking! Nothing more calming than kneading a big batch of dough, then enjoying a glass of wine or cocktail while its rising.

@ NotAmerican-
After reading your post (BTW, the stew sounds wonderful...) I just realized my third form of food therapy is reading about cooking.....

As I've said before-- slightly obsessed here... But it makes me happy.

Love to Chop

I agree with lots of the comments here. Anything that requires me to pay full attention to the food, and not worry about whatever else is going on.

I made a lamb stew last week...just sliced lamb, potato, leeks, celery, garlic and spices in a cream sauce, based roughly on the classic Bigos stew from Poland (because ours was lamb-based, we jokingly called it 'builders' stew' in a nod to our Irish and Polish friends.

The lamb was from the farm down the road, was free-range, and very tasty. We don't eat much meat, so when we do, we get the best. I sauteed it in butter, dill, garlic and sage, sliced it, then added it to the potatoes, onions and other veg boiling away in a large pot full of stock. I added a pot of cream near the end. It was nice. A loaf of bread and some butter helps. You can add some kielbasa or any other spicy sausage if you like. Basically, you can do anything with it. Just...keep...stirring...

Forgot to add-

Eating it with pleasure is my second form of therapy.

Someone else can do the dishes....please. :oP

It doesn't matter what it is, just the act of cooking or baking, of making something wonderful and with love, for myself or for others is my therapy.