Thank You, Betty Crocker
27/08/14 14:34
Before I write anymore about Betty Crocker, yes, I know she is not a real person. I know that she is a trademark and American icon owned and operated by General Mills. I also know that she has defined our nation’s food culture, and she has taught me how to cook.
Perhaps, I should actually thank my mom who sent me on my way to college with the 1986 edition of the Betty Crocker’s Cookbook in my hand. Maybe I should give the credit to the faculty and culinary students at Metro Community College for sharing their knowledge with me as I completed my Dietetic degree. I know that all of these experiences played a role in my journey of cooking, but when I really think about where I turned when I was stumped about how to prep a whole chicken, how to cut an artichoke, or how to make my own hollandaise sauce…well, it’s Betty.
I didn’t realize how far I had come in my ability to cook until I grabbed an old authentic Mexican recipe book my mother, again, had given me as a gift when I got married. At that time, as I flipped through it, I couldn’t make sense of the terminology and ingredients that were needed to fix such authentic fair. Nine years later, planning a dinner party for our neighbors, I grabbed the old Mexican cookbook and was pleasantly surprised to learn that I was familiar with the cooking methods and ingredients that before seemed truly foreign to me. It was then that I thought about the whole process of learning to cook. Over time, with simply cooking recipes from my Betty Crocker cookbook, I had become a pretty good chef in my own little kitchen.
What is the point I am trying to make to you? It’s this. Many of my clients feel overwhelmed with the idea of cooking, and they feel pressured to keep up with what is on Pinterest or the Food Network. Therefore, they never give it a try. Cooking, even if it’s not something you love, is an integral part of your health. Cooking puts you in the driver’s seat. You, and you alone, control the ingredients that make up your meal, which ultimately, over time, determines your level of health. Beyond that, cooking has allowed me to show my love to my children, husband, and friends. It has brought my family together more times than I can count to share laughs and frustrations.
Sure, I’m a dietitian, but I had to learn to cook just like anyone else. I started with Hamburger Helper® and a can of green beans, because that is still better than a fast food combo meal. I encourage you to find your starting point in your own kitchen. If you don’t have one yet, grab a copy of Betty Crocker’s Cookbook. I’d lend you my old one, but the binding is broken and it’s falling apart. Despite its poor condition, I can’t seem to part with it. Even though I now own a current, updated edition, I owe too much to that Betty to let her go. Thanks again, Betty Crocker, and I’ll let you know how far I come in another 10 years.
Perhaps, I should actually thank my mom who sent me on my way to college with the 1986 edition of the Betty Crocker’s Cookbook in my hand. Maybe I should give the credit to the faculty and culinary students at Metro Community College for sharing their knowledge with me as I completed my Dietetic degree. I know that all of these experiences played a role in my journey of cooking, but when I really think about where I turned when I was stumped about how to prep a whole chicken, how to cut an artichoke, or how to make my own hollandaise sauce…well, it’s Betty.
I didn’t realize how far I had come in my ability to cook until I grabbed an old authentic Mexican recipe book my mother, again, had given me as a gift when I got married. At that time, as I flipped through it, I couldn’t make sense of the terminology and ingredients that were needed to fix such authentic fair. Nine years later, planning a dinner party for our neighbors, I grabbed the old Mexican cookbook and was pleasantly surprised to learn that I was familiar with the cooking methods and ingredients that before seemed truly foreign to me. It was then that I thought about the whole process of learning to cook. Over time, with simply cooking recipes from my Betty Crocker cookbook, I had become a pretty good chef in my own little kitchen.
What is the point I am trying to make to you? It’s this. Many of my clients feel overwhelmed with the idea of cooking, and they feel pressured to keep up with what is on Pinterest or the Food Network. Therefore, they never give it a try. Cooking, even if it’s not something you love, is an integral part of your health. Cooking puts you in the driver’s seat. You, and you alone, control the ingredients that make up your meal, which ultimately, over time, determines your level of health. Beyond that, cooking has allowed me to show my love to my children, husband, and friends. It has brought my family together more times than I can count to share laughs and frustrations.
Sure, I’m a dietitian, but I had to learn to cook just like anyone else. I started with Hamburger Helper® and a can of green beans, because that is still better than a fast food combo meal. I encourage you to find your starting point in your own kitchen. If you don’t have one yet, grab a copy of Betty Crocker’s Cookbook. I’d lend you my old one, but the binding is broken and it’s falling apart. Despite its poor condition, I can’t seem to part with it. Even though I now own a current, updated edition, I owe too much to that Betty to let her go. Thanks again, Betty Crocker, and I’ll let you know how far I come in another 10 years.