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I believe in a home cooked meal and family gatherings. I’ve had an interest in cooking since I was very young and became serious about it when I was about 13. When I was 15, I cooked my first entire Thanksgiving meal for my entire family. It had everything, right down to an apple pie for dessert. I was solely responsible for feeding 7 people who had helped raise me and guide me since I had been born. My audience consisted of my parents, my older brother, 2 grandmothers, and an aunt, quite a steep panel even though I knew they would enjoy it and be proud of me no matter what.
I had an enormous sense of pride invested in the single meal, my skills riding on the back of that roast turkey. The thought of providing for all of these people who had provided so much for me over the course of my life so far made me feel good, as though I was giving them something they deserved, even though it is comparing one meal to a teenage life span’s responsibility. But that pride and sense of togetherness is what I believe, that those strong emotions can be conjured simply by a home cooked meal.
I really like where this is headed. I wonder if you could get even more specific about making that meal. What did you serve? How long did it take? Details, details, details. Also, think about how you use this in your life everyday and explain it to your audience. Being Italian, my family always had meals together, and I believe it is why my family is so strong today despite the fact that my brother is in Italy, I am here, and the rest of my family is in NY. Do you have similar feelings? How does this guide your daily life? What is it about cooking for others that is so satisfying? Is some of it the thanks they give? Is more of it sitting around a table enjoying something together? What do you think?