happy wednesday you beautiful people you. i want to start off by saying i hope you are all thriving as always. this week i decided to take a bit of a different route with the topic of discussion, especially because the last few weeks have been rather vulnerable i figured it was time for a good fix of some light hearted love. so, i decided what better way then to talk about cooking! we all love food, or at least i hope you love food. heck, even if you don’t love it, it is sure something you need to survive.

cooking though has never been my thing, but thanks to my boyfriend i must say that i am growing to enjoy it. don’t let that fool you though because it still stresses me out and i’m still too afraid to cook meat aside from chicken and fish as well as for the most part i stick to the recipe spot on. hey, i am learning and it has been such a fun process.

with that being said i wanted to share a couple recipes. these are not mine and all credit goes to those who did create them, but they are just too good not to share. these select few have been some of my most enjoyed meals that i have made thus far ~

meals:

teriyaki baked salmon - https://www.thewholesomedish.com/teriyaki-baked-salmon/
rigatoni with tomato parmesan sauce - https://www.tastesoflizzyt.com/rigatoni-with-tomato-parmesan-sauce/
almond coconut crusted tilapia - https://thetoastedpinenut.com/almond-coconut-crusted-tilapia/
salmon pesto pasta - https://www.saltandlavender.com/salmon-pesto-pasta/

treats:

gluten free banana bread - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7W3zc0OmXY&list=PLB3xKg_qozCU7nV0oXdqMJfa5nHuQZxsA
weight watchers banana pudding - https://www.midlifehealthyliving.com/ww-banana-pudding/

what is so great though is that my little journey with cooking has taught me a few other things in the process which of course means i want to share with you. not only do we want to fuel our bodies with delicious food, we want to feed our souls with knowledge.

first and foremost cooking has made me look at my relationships with others differently because the way we feel loved may be different from the way our family members and peers feel loved. that is really what started this whole adventure with cooking for me. having talked about our love languages my boyfriend and i came up with ways we feel most loved and provided each other with a small list that each other could do periodically to show their love. although my boyfriend loves cooking one of the ways he best receives love is through acts of services which he boiled down to me cooking at least occasionally for him. obviously it was a fair enough request and i guess you can say i love him quite a bunch because i don’t just cook for anyone. he is loved so much it became a weekly thing that tuesday i would make us dinner.

it did not stop there though, because i also learned that sometimes we need a bit of a push (myself included). if it weren’t for my boyfriend and his request to show love through cooking for us i probably wouldn’t be making as many meals as i have been which would be a real shame seeing that in the short amount of time i have learned so much and cooked quite a few meals on my own. i think too often we feel as if it isn’t our place in peoples lives to tell them what they should and shouldn’t do, which i completely get, but sometimes it’s okay to do so too. sometimes we need that extra push - we need someone to be straight up with us. of course in a kind and respectful way, but our journey is not meant to be completely on our own. the other day i explained how i saw it to a friend like this:

“i think of it [our life - our goals] has a marathon. you have to do the hard work of running it or walking it (either way is progress no matter how fast you go) but just because it’s up to you to complete it doesn’t mean there can’t be help along the way. maybe that help looks like bringing water, or walking/running along side with encouraging words. if you were thirsty what are you likely to do? drink the water given to you or skip out on it? most likely you would drink it. the path is yours but you in no way have to do it all on your own”

sometimes these encouraging words are easier than others but i learned that sometimes we have to get comfortable with getting uncomfortable because when you are honest with people and effectively communicate the people in your life will appreciate that honesty. sometimes it’s hard news to swallow, but sometimes it’s also necessary.

lasty, i was reminded that even though we can enjoy something doesn’t mean it is always enjoyable. i have grown to enjoy cooking, but it still causes me stress at times and often even depending on my day it is not my favorite thing to do. the thing is my stress and energy level, etc. do not define my whole experience and it’s not just when it comes to cooking. that is also true for our goals and life in general. having something bad happen today does not mean it was a bad day. or take my Saturday for instance i cried on and off from seven to midnight. i am fine and nothing crazy big happened to make me so hysteric - hormones ya’ll, (ladies you know what i mean). it really wasn’t a bad day though. the morning was nice and relaxing as well as productive. not only did i sleep in, have a slow morning, and chat with my nana, but i went through my emails, rebooked my justin bieber concert tickets, read some of my book, and started laundry. pretty solid day if i do say so myself.

if you made it this far leave you favorite recipes below! i would love to try them (:

have a blessed week loves!