Let's cook up some joy
What ingredient(s) would be in your recipe for joy?
Recently, the concept of joy and the craving for it has come up so much. In my client sessions, in my social circles, in my reflection time, and in community.
And goodness, I've been loving and feeling so inspired by how unique this is for each and everyone of us. Just like I truly believe we all have our own version of success and leadership, so do we joy.
I curiously wondered...
How many flavours and textures of joy are there?
And what gives you that delight, happiness or pleasure?
What is your unique flavour of joy?
Does joy for you look different from day to day? Like on any given day you'd crave different foods and variety? Or maybe you enjoy the same thing every time?
Now whilst I don’t plan on sharing recipes now in my love notes.. (hm if this excites you, though, please hit reply!)
...I have always shared recipes with close friends and have been a “foodie” for as long as I can remember. Even my husband vowed on our wedding day that he would let my camera “eat” first when we go out for dinner. Just so I could capture some of the joy a dish would bring.
I also used to blog about discovering different foods for a while wayyyyy back, especially since I migrated to Australia where food culture is just so rich.
Another little food secret of mine.. I do truly have ‘apply for Masterchef’ on my inspiration list.
But...
This is actually an invitation from my business.
An inspiration I’m following, and listening to. Simply trusting.
Energetically, I’m being called to literally and also metaphorically spend time in the kitchen. This may have to do with the fact that I have already been spending a good chunk of my day there in recent weeks. I’ve been making so many homemade vegetable soups. So many. Winter weather here in Australia does that to me. Nothing beats warming up to a hot bowl of rich homemade soup with fresh ingredients whilst I'm neatly curled up in a ball with a thick knitted sweater on. Hmmm. Joy.
I've also been preparing and cooking extra foods for my baby girl. She is starting to learn how to eat solids! Which is a whole nother thing in itself.
Seeing her make faces as she taste tests, spews out, learns how to navigate different textures and foods and also excitedly signs for more. THAT is joy. Currently her top foods include barramundi, sweet potato, rice, carrot and broccoli, egg and avocado. I can’t wait to make her all sorts of tasty foods. Joy.
Before I try to figure out right away what recipe I need to cook, I'm just playing with the richness in the kitchen right now. Interesting enough, this is how I do cooking at home. When I come up with our weekly dinner schedule, I allow myself to be inspired by ingredients, vegetables and then get inspired by what to cook. Usually it's the beautiful produce in season. And even then I still allow myself to deviate from the schedule.
Allowing myself to be open to ANY possibility.. Because that's where the magic is. The unfolding and in the cooking process (which starts before the actual cooking..!)
And so I’d love to invite you to join me in the kitchen (literally or metaphorically, up to you)!
What’s your flavour of joy, beautiful?
Whether this is for your favourite dessert, beverage, snack, meal, or just plain on a teaspoon or with chopsticks...
There are NO limits here.
If you'd like a kickstarter, here's a few toppings for inspiration:
Umami rich toffee
Rainbow chocolate sprinkles
A dash of olive oil and Pink Himalayan salt
Maraschino cherry
Sherbet dust
Grass jelly
A swirl of full fat whipped cream
Shaved ice
Bacon bits
Fairy floss
Tapioca pearls
Dash of Coconut milk
Peppermint leafs
A thick chunk of Roquefort blue cheese
Flambe
Chopped pistacchio
Aloe vera jelly
Chopped fresh chives
Rockmelon balls
Wrapped in Pandan leaf
Salty Liquorice
A splash of kahlua
Chinkiang Vinegar
Cinnamon sugar
Drizzle of honey
Chopped pisstacchio
Dollop of yoghurt
Chunky crispy croutons
Juicy water melon
Parmigiano Reggiano
Toasted sesame seeds
Cucumber balls
Pistacchio dust
Thinly sliced spring onion and hot pepper
Roasted cashews
Crispy apple slices
Red wine poached pear
Mixed Berry compote
Shaved macadamia nuts
Peanut brittle
Hot flaming cheetos
Cola fizz
Lime juice
Popping candy
A dust of Nutmeg
A spoonful of crunchy nut butter
Chunks of coconut
Homemade apple crumble crumbs
Lemon zest
Fresh lychee
Pickled kimchee
Light soy sauce
Drizzle of sesame oil
Palm sugar syrup
Chocolate sauce
85% cacao chocolate square
Red beans
After eight
Nougat
Rose water
Pitted black olives
Sirachi hot sauce
Freshly chopped Birdseye chili
Deep fried shallots
Icing sugar
And so much more...
If yours isn't on this list yet, please please let me know by hitting reply so I can add it!
In the process of coming up with this list, my joy was sparked tenfold by the inspiration for and looking up of desserts, snacks and yummy foods that tickled my appetite
It also inspired the base ingredients for a new business “recipe”, as I know that your creativity is at it's peak when you create and express your gifts with joy!
Much love + coconut milk & tapioca pearls (+ taro)
Marlous