Food is Love

Every once in awhile you come across something in a book or movie, maybe something profound (…or not so profound-who knows!) that someone said.  And it changes you. Or it sparks some long distant thought memory, reminding you of something you always knew–but didn’t know you knew.  That’s what happened to me.
I was reading a fictional account of a chef/restaurateur who held cooking classes at her restaurant every week.  She described each student and went on to give a little info on each of their lives.  What resonated so distinctly with me, so profoundly touching my soul, was the way she chose each recipe based on the emotion she felt it conjured and how she felt it would affect each of the students.

It was like, click-click-click, puzzle pieces fitting together in my mind–THAT’S IT!  That is how I think about food too!  FOOD IS EMOTION!  Food. for me. is love!
How do you know I love thee?–I have cooked for you, shared a meal with you, planned a dinner for you.  Food is how I express my love for those around me.  Food is how I show my appreciation for all that you do.  FOOD IS LOVE!

Lovely Shortbread Cookies (these will warm your heart!)
1lb Butter (not margarine or any substitute)
 1/2 cup corn starch
1 cup icing sugar
3 cups flour

Soften butter and beat in large bowl. Mix flour, cornstarch and sugar in a separate bowl.  Slowly add to butter and mix with hand-mixer until combined.  Continue until mixture looks like whipped cream (this may take a couple of minutes–but is totally worth the effort!).
Roll into 1 1/2 inch balls and place on cookie sheet–flatten with a fork or spoon.  Sprinkle with coloured sugar, sprinkles or nuts.
Bake at 300 degrees for 15-18min (they will be just barely brown on the bottom)
Enjoy!