Cooking is a very important thing in my family; cooking a three-square meal with some in-between junk isn't a joke at all. I happen to be the chef of the family; I never remembered when my mom last entered the kitchen to cook. I do most of the cooking, and I get helped sometimes by my elder sister. When I was little, I did feel eager to cook; I wanted to be the one handling the dishes, but I've always been told I'm too young for such a task. It does make me feel bad, not knowing those were my years of enjoyment. Sitting down, watching the television, and watching my food being served by mom or my sister.
When I was 10 years old, my mom always called me to the kitchen whenever she was cooking to put me through some dishes. At that age, I could prepare noodles, make custard, and make oatmeal for myself, and gradually, as I grew older, I graduated to other complex dishes such as rice, beans, and amala( my traditional food). Before I graduated from my junior secondary school, I had already become a professional in almost all the dishes we eat at home. It was then that I realized I was in for a big task. I will have to prepare breakfast for myself and my younger ones, and during the weekdays, mom will prepare lunch because by lunch time I will still be in school, but dinner is sure for me to prepare.
Image credit is mine
I remembered a day during my learning process when I cooked one of my traditional dishes in an awful way. The complaints, scolding, and correction I was given that day made me a better cook today, and I can say I am the kitchen manager; that's what my dad calls me. I truly am because I know everything that enters or goes out of the kitchen. I monitor every activity in the kitchen, and this gave me the opportunity to dish for myself whatever I wanted as the foodie that I am. No one competes with me as far as the kitchen is concerned. I always love to try new dishes, and this has made me introduce lots of different delicacies to the family, even the ones from other tribes, and once it's prepared by me, my family is in for it.
When I gained admission into a higher institution, the first thing my dad said was, "I will miss your cooking." My mom felt jealous about that, son she surrendered and said the same Luckily for them, I gained admission to a school in the same city, so I can go home once in a while. Whenever they missed my cooking, they put a call through for me to come home for the weekend. I guess that's what I'm remembered for. I'm happy doing it though because I see it as an avenue to improve more when it comes to cooking skills, and fortunately, cooking is taken seriously in my culture and tribe. As a lady, you need to know how to prepare all the local dishes with no errors; that is how they know a well-trained wife and mother. With respect to the culture, I guess I'm doing myself some good too, aside from making my family happy.
Image credit is mine
Apart from cooking, tidying up the kitchen is one of the things I do best. As cleanliness is to godliness, so also is my cleanliness to cooking. It gives the peace of mind needed, even when a stranger enters and sees how clean the cooking environment is. He or she will be willing to eat, and thanks to my mother, she has taught me well when it comes to cleanliness. These are the things I'm sure I will be remembered for if I finally leave home.