Cooking for Cole

WHERE YOU WONDERING ABOUT MY BLOG TITLE? 

I will occasionally feature food but this is primarily a my-lifestyle blog. However, here's the story behind the title:

What images come to your mind when you hear the term “cooking for one”? Maybe a very small lasagna in it’s own personal pan, or maybe an older male, professor-like sitting down at an empty dining table, taking his time spreading the linen napkin over his lap and then eating his tiny steak and few asparagus spears in silence. Either way, the term doesn’t exactly conjure up the warm fuzzy feelings. 

I once said this term to a close friend not long after I found myself single following a very long relationship. I loved cooking but my joy resulted mainly from creating something that would be enjoyed by others, not necessarily myself. And I was armed with an entire repertoire of recipes based on tastes and already beloved by this previous significant other. When I said “cooking for one” to my friend I meant it in a self-deprecating way, but she turned to me and said, “Cooking for Cole” (Cole being my nickname within that group). With just the slight adjustment it was changed from  sad, lonely imagery to a title that represents a woman and her love of good tastes and culinary experiences. 

These days many of the activities I do are for one: dance parties, Netflix bingeing, day trips. And that’s ok, more than ok it’s enjoyable and necessary to offset a life full of friends, laughs, and great memories with days where it’s just me. Some nights I am indeed cooking for one. Maybe the dish is simple or maybe it’s complicated but it’s whatever I want it to be. More often than not, I am sharing wonderful meals with the beautiful people in my life, in which case I am cooking for love.