Finding Purpose Through the Kitchen: A Journey of Cooking and Family

When I first got married, I could barely cook. Despite growing up in a family of chefs, where my mum was a trained chef and my older sisters were excellent cooks by the time they left high school, the kitchen was always a space I stayed away from. I had my own skill — ironing. Yes, while the others were perfecting meals, I was perfecting the art of ironing for a family of ten.

Ironing was my assigned chore in a household of eight children, and I got really good at it. In fact, to this day, I still iron once or twice a week — and I find it quite relaxing. It’s my little time to unwind, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. But when it came to cooking, I simply wasn’t interested... or so I thought.

The Turning Point: Cooking with the Kids

Fast forward to when I had children. Suddenly, cooking became a necessity, and I realized I needed to step up in the kitchen. But it wasn’t just about feeding the family; I wanted to enjoy the experience, too. That’s when Andrew, my husband, who’s a trained chef, stepped in. He patiently taught me, and together, we taught our kids how to cook as well.

What started as a need to feed our family quickly transformed into a passion for cooking. I found purpose in the process — the creativity, the smells, and especially the joy it brought to our table when everyone came together to share the meal. Cooking became a space for connection, laughter, and love.

A Family Cookbook: The Fruit Advent Calendar

Our family cooking experiences also led to something even more unexpected: a cookbook. Inspired by our shared love for cooking, Jasmine and Kevin (with their parents support) published The Fruit Advent Calendar, a cookbook that counts down to Christmas with fruit-based recipes and family stories. It was a beautiful way to capture the memories we’d made together in the kitchen. The book, now available on Amazon, became a result of the very journey we had undertaken as a family — one where cooking brought us closer and allowed us to share our creativity with the world. (The Fruit Advent Calendar on Amazon)

Plating with Purpose: You Feast with Your Eyes

One thing my mum always said was, “You feast with your eyes.” She was absolutely right — the presentation of food matters just as much as its taste. Part of the joy of cooking became not just in preparing the meals, but in plating them to look beautiful and appetizing. My mum was a stickler for making sure the food was as pleasing to the eyes as it was to the stomach. Andrew too for that matter (I suppose every chef has that 😊).

Now, I see that in our kids. They’ve inherited that love for making the meal visually appealing. Whether it’s arranging the food just so, adding garnishes, or creating a colourful spread, they understand that part of the experience is making the food look inviting. It’s a simple thing, but it’s all about creating moments of enjoyment and connection around the table.

Learning and Growing Together

I look back now and realise how much I’ve grown — not just as a cook, but as a person. It’s a reminder that sometimes the things we think we can’t do or don’t enjoy end up becoming some of the most meaningful parts of our lives. For me, it was cooking. And through it, I’ve found a purpose I never expected.

Andrew’s influence, teaching both me and the kids, brought us closer as a family and created memories that go beyond just the food itself. It’s become a tradition that carries not just nourishment for the body, but for the soul, too.

Embracing the Journey

Now, cooking is not just about meal preparation — it’s about connection, it’s about learning, it’s about finding joy in the little things. I may not have started with a natural passion for cooking, but through family, patience, and a little bit of guidance, I’ve found purpose in the kitchen.

And who would’ve thought? The same hands that once ironed clothes for the whole family now prepare meals with love 💛.