“Cooking is so much fun – you can create anything you want. You can personalize it to your taste and make it healthy for you. It is amazing, I love it!” are the enthusiastic words from my 20-year old son who is in Nairobi for the summer. When I asked him how he was interested in cooking so suddenly especially when he had never tried to cook before, his response was that he had watched me cook, enjoyed the aroma of freshly cooked food and was able to get into it naturally.  My daughter started cooking very young and has become a seasoned chef capable of cooking a wide range of dishes from the east and the west.

I love cooking and I think I am now addicted to it. I guess I picked it from watching my mother cook who spent most of her time in the kitchen while we were growing up.  During my visits to see my mother half way around the world, hoping to spend quality time with her, I often witnessed her trying to cook and feed all our favorite dishes within the few weeks we stayed with her. My constant reminder that I could cook those same things and I would rather see her spend time with us never convinced her.

My passion for cooking has only grown over the years. As an empty nester, I could have easily survived without cooking much. Instead I cook with many excuses such as creating a cook book or by volunteering to serve as a host for the Home Plate program (which involves having students from Washington University in St. Louis regularly to enjoy homemade meals) or sharing food with friends and families. The recipes have evolved over time and continue to change as new ideas appear.

The secret of successful cooking addiction remains in that the cooked food should be of a well-balanced diet eaten within limits to appreciate fresh, healthy, flavorful and tasty meals.