The Heart of The Home is in the Kitchen

The Heart of The Home is in the Kitchen

As we get older sometimes we forget the little things that made our childhoods so magical and great like coming home from school and smelling the evenings meal being prepared. As we walked down the drive way or if you were in my household where I grew up with my Nonni which is Italian for grandparents you knew what was cooking for dinner two blocks away because you could smell it cooking and serenading the streets and such a magical aroma.

It wasn't overpowering or strong but it was a subtle hint of herbs floating along with the breeze but as soon as you smelt it it would lift your spirits. Kind of like walking past a bakery in the early morning and having the smell of fresh bread hit you in the face and transporting you to another world.

When I was young my friends would tease me about it but I know deep down they wished it was them and I know, because as we grew older they would never miss an invite over for dinner and would constantly ask. Many of my childhood friends that I am still close with will till this day come over for dinner and make special requests as I was fortunate enough to learn how to cook from my nonna. I pride myself on my cooking although it can be a bit of a curse at times because sometimes I can't be bothered cooking.

But now, fastforward to my adult life and my neighbours are the ones that often say "geee, that smells lovely, whats for dinner tonight?" Few of my neighbours can guess what I am cooking purely by the smell oh and you know my BBQs I often share. Well they tend to get a few noses up and people wanting to come past for a beer or two. There is one other family close by who also cooks lovely BBQ's. They're middle eastern and cook a lovely rotisserie with a few different marinated meats. If you're wondering, yes I have popped passed a few times and grabbed a snack.

This all came to mind today, the memories of growing up and the walk home from school and the aroma as I came close because little miss said something to me tonight that made me smile and remind me of the past. I know that her favourtie meal is my special herb and crummbed chicken wings which I make from scratch. Sometimes when she is feeling down I like to suprise her with them and it's one of the only meals I can get her to gobble up and not have to fight her to eat.

She was at her Nan's house today and as she entered the home I heard her saying at the front door "quick nan! quick!" She came running down the hall way straight into the kitched and exclaimed "I Knew It!". I turned and smiled at her and asked "You knew what?" Little miss just smiled at me.

Throughout my whole life I think the kitchen has made some of my best memories as it is what brings us all together as a family at the end of each day. The time we talk, share stories of the day and laugh about all the silly things and hear all the latest gossip.

The kitchen is the heart of the house.