Each person has their own way of coping with the everyday problems and stresses that life is inclined to throw in front of them. ‘The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’, as Shakespeare said. Some people find that music relaxes them best of all. Others play a sport or go to the gym.
In many, particularly eastern countries, meditation, in some of its many forms is very popular for relaxation. Often different kinds of beans are used to assist in relieving stress. Indeed, traditional Roman Catholics use rosary beads, though this is mainly about praying. No doubt it is also relaxing. My grandmother frequently told me, when I was a child, that her two knife sets were what relaxed her.
How could two sets of knives relieve stress? Well, it’s quite simple really. You see, my grandmother, Grandma Ellen, spend most of each day in the kitchen. When I was young, I assumed that was where all grandmothers spent their days.
Perhaps, many of them did. But mine was addicted to cooking and baking. In one corner of her kitchen, at the furthest end away from the cooker, she had a not insubstantial freestanding bookshelf. It was a considerable, personal, library for her alone. It was stuffed with every conceivable kind of cook book. Some where so old, that I imagine she got them when she was not much more than a teenager.
Every day she tried out new recipes. Of course this was greatly appreciated by all the other members of the family who happen to be in the house. She once told me that a knife set and a cookbook where heavenly creations. Again, when I was a kid, I had no idea what she was talking about.
It was only when I became sort of obsessed myself with the kitchen and experimenting with new recipes, that I really understood where my grandma was coming from. Having said that, I have never been quite a passionate as she was about knives. So I concede that I have three or four favorite ones myself.
But I have a confession to make. I am not without my own little kitchen obsessions. One in particular. That obsession is my countertop microwave. I honestly don’t believe I would function properly in my kitchen without this device. Of course, I don’t use it for my haute cuisine cooking. For that, I use my fabulous Induction hob. No, my microwave is not really for serious cooking but for de-stressing. In other words I use it to prepare instant food for myself when I’m on my own. Crucially I’ve got into the habit now of making my coffee and tea with it too.
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