For a happy life it's important to be able to find beauty in everyday things. This teaches us to appreciate what we already have and to not look outside of ourselves for definition and satisfaction. This in turn dials down that gnawing feeling of dissatisfaction and lack. Which in turn allows more space and opportunity for happiness and satisfaction and the beautiful things to register. A simple formula, but often difficult to manifest.
In my experience, the best place to practice this in in the kitchen. Why? Well, for one you're likely to find yourself there at least two or three times a day so it's a very practical place to start. And a very ordinary, everyday place, too. But the same time, the kitchen is filled with the most extraordinary things. Example? Consider the cardamom pod...
In all the sensual ways--touch, taste, sound, smell and appearance--the cardamom pod is exquisite. If you have some in your kitchen, go there now and take one out! Roll it between your fingers and inhale it's deep spicy scent, a bit like cinnamon, a bit like ginger. It's a warm, perfuming spice that adds depth and nuance to everything you use it in.
After rolling it, crack it open with your thumbnail or slice it carefully with a knife on a board. The crinkled outside layer peels away to reveal rows of tiny brown seeds, hard and rough and bursting with flavor. Take the back of a spoon and crush them to release an intoxicating scent. I especially like the critching-crushing sound of the little seeds in the mortar and pestle.
If you don't have cardamom pods in your kitchen, powdered cardamom will do. And if you don't have either, remember to pick some up the next time your at the grocers.
There's so much this wonderful spice can add to your cooking, both sweet and savory. Add it whole to chutneys, jams (think pear cardamon jam), plain white rice. Usually it's best to fish it out before serving, or advise your guests to be careful because biting into the whole pods can be a little over the top for some. Combine it with black tea and cinnamon and pepper for chai tea.
We know powdered cardamom from many coffee cakes and sweets from Finland and other European countries. It's often used in curry and masala mixtures. One way to experience it is to simply add a quarter or half teaspoon to your favorite butter cookie recipe where it will melt with the butter and sugar and somehow become an even greater expression of itself.
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So what sparkles and calls to you in your kitchen today? If it's not cardamom, then maybe it's a banana or the first peas of spring. Surely it's strawberries or the pattern of sun on the countertop or the worn, smooth handle of your grandmother's wooden spoon. Surely it's the smell of a pie in the oven or the sexy clamor and tang of red hot chili pepper. Whatever it is, the kitchen wakes us up and invites us all the way in to experience the deep, everyday pleasure of being alive.
From The Kitchn Archives:
A Cardamom Video
Chai Recipe
Garam Masala Recipe
Mexican Spiced Wedding Cookies
Try substituting 1 teaspoon of cardamom for the Earl Grey tea in this recipe
(Image: Dana Velden)
the kitchn, I love you. i just broke out some cardamom pods yesterday, and, it must be in the ethers, but I gave thanks for a friend who reminds me (along with you, the kitchn) to enjoy spices.
Martha Stewart Living has beautiful features on decorating with natural colours periodically. Cardamom would be a wonderful theme. I wonder if fragrance, too, evokes certain colours?
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I love love love it on ratatouille. I usually crush 3-5 pods up and sprinkle it overtop before it goes in the oven.
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I want to thank you for posts like this. My kitchen has become a place of not only happiness, but health for me, and appreciating the small things is what I must do every single day.
I have progressive illness, and a couple years ago was bedbound on a liquid diet and very ill. Thanks to surgery, medication, and becomming a great cook I am now as "healthy" as I can be for my situation.
I love making good meals, whether they are fancy, or a great bargain. I love walking around Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and especially Penzey's Spices when we make the 3-hour round trip every couple months. And I can't wait for our local farmer's market to start up next month.
Aside from my dogs, who are the definition of joy in small things, cooking has become a real area of peace and calm in my life, which isn't so great otherwise.
It's always my hope that the people who think cooking from boxes loaded with preservatives saves them time, realize that taking the time to make wholesome meals will probably pay off in the long run. As quite often, those who don't make time for health, will be forced to make time for sickness.
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