Food is my lifeline

I seriously do not know how raving mad I would go if I didn't have the outlet of food to imagine, to look at, to prepare and finally to savour and offer to others as the best gift I can think of. The mind boggles and it's not a pretty imaginary sight! Sometimes I remind myself of that program called "Grumpy Old Women" or, in other words, a bunch of middle-aged pseudo-celebs having a moan and a rant about anything and everything. Yes, I'm 32 (and don't even suggest I am getting close to middle age or else...) but I think I was born with a big sense of inconformity at the world around me: I cannot stand sloppy standards in anything which is not the same to say that don't forgive mistakes because I make them all the time! Mistakes are more than acceptable insofar as you set out to do the best you could possibly do and made the best effort within your circumstances to achieve it. Maybe it is because I come from a country where, yes, a lot of people take the piss big time and take shortcuts and dodgy ways of getting to high places but, on the other hand, both in my family and among my friends hard work is the norm. My mum (however strained our relationship is at times and however many differences there are between us) has always worked tirelessly both at home and outside, excelling at everything she does and never suggesting that she should work part-time or from home or anything of the sort. Obviously, in the UK workers are a lot more protected and have so many more benefits which, to a degree, is great. However, I think that sometimes it breeds laziness and a feeling of artificial exhaustion, creating needs that are not necessarily natural to all but fostered by a system that allows for too much slacking. It does annoy the crap out of me and before you call me right-wing or Tory lover, please rest assured that I am a lefty at heart and that my paper of choice (which I always read from cover to cover) is the Guardian.

And back to the subject of food (the underlying thread to my existence) this attitude translated into the kitchen with the "Can't-be- arsed-I'd-rather-heat-up-a-plastic-ready-meal or order-a-greasy-takewaway-to-fill-the-gap and-soak-up-the-gallons-of-booze-I've-just-gulped-down" attitude is downright depressing. I will try to be fair and look on the bright side as I know there are many UK foodies out there who take their food seriously but I think it boils down to differences in our cultural make-up. Back home, we are born into a heritage og Italian, Spanish and Jewish grandmothers (explosive combination, I know) which means that the importance of nourishment is drummed into us from the moment we pop out. It would be a cardinal sin for a mom to feed their kids microwave meals and whoever does (there is always somebody who lets the side down) is met with utter derision. Making a healthy AND quick meal, oddly enough, takes the same amount of time than heating up some rubbish but, yes...you might need to roll your sleeves up and spend 10 minutes or so chopping and stirring...the horror! Life is too short, they say to waste time cooking...Well, life will be to short if you don't put any effort into the most crucial aspect of life and settle for sausages, beans and bacon sarnies as not only your body will be malnourished but your brain will be underdeveloped through sheer lack of fuel and your mood undermined by a completely foreign relationship with the preparation of what goes into your body which can have such a powerful effect and have either a positive or negative impact on people's lives. As one of my heroes, Jamie Oliver said, it is not about money: there are groups in shanty towns in Soweto who eat better than the Brits...'Nuff said.