Making Knish and Khachapuri: Delicious Winter Dishes! - Essay Sample

Introduction

During outings, I prepare dishes such as knish for my family and friends. The balance of the onions, beef, potatoes, and cheese always makes it a finger-licking event. We all love cheese, right? During the Russian holidays, I step up and bake khachapuri. It is a Russian pastry which allows me to get creative in my cooking. This week I added an egg to the combo, and it was the best thing I have ever eaten in my life. My son is always craving Russian foods whenever it gets to winter. It isn't a surprise since Russian cuisine is rich in carbs, which are perfect for the cold seasons. My mother taught me to always welcome visitors and new neighbours with pastry delicacies from our Russian culture.

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Oh well, I am such a complicated person; a lot of factors affect my eating habits. As a Russian, I love my culture's food. It has so much to offer rather than just caviar and vodka. The cuisines match my taste buds, which are always into sour, sweet foods. My family loves how I cook the borscht dish with the right amount of spices and sour cream to compliment the beetroot and beef soup. Hey, I know I am not Greek, but the culture has an exotic taste, which made me obsessed. Whenever I am sad, only Mediterranean food can lift me. I introduced my son to various Greek cooking, and he is totally into it. I add Mediterranean species, such as garlic to flavour my food. I started to become a Greek food fanatic after attending a culinary course during one of the spring breaks when I was a teenager. During the lessons, I prepared the falafel sandwiches, and it impressed me. I prefer simple ingredients to others since they are easy to access at the local market place, which tends to be affordable. As a single mother, I need to have a tight budget to ensure the daily upkeep of my toddler.

My diet cheat days are standard during holidays such as Christmas and thanksgiving. Eating a wide variety of high curb foods on such holidays is a family tradition, and I can't say no to family. Anyway, who does not like to have a full tummy? As a Christian, I do not partake in alcohol consumption since I find it a violation of God's guidelines and teachings. I recently got diagnosed with diabetes, which prompted my interest in getting into the keto-diet. I limit my carbs to 20 to 50 grams daily. It is difficult for me to maintain a healthy eating plan since I get late-night cravings.

What is your attitude toward cooking? Describe experiences of cooking for yourself versus cooking for/with friends or family.

I love cooking since it allows me to get creative during the food preparation and presentation process. I like getting new recipes from cookbooks and YouTube videos and trying them out in my kitchen. I can say that I use cooking as a leisure activity since I find it exciting because each day comes with a challenge. I am a control freak; hence, the kitchen allows me to choose my ingredients' origins and how I will prepare the meal. I am fascinated with spicy flavours; thus, I add more and more to suit my taste buds. I spend more than 2 hours in the kitchen counter, preparing various meals throughout the day. I call it my safe heaven because of peace and satisfaction; I feel when I cook delicious meals. I admit that cooking is good for the soul since it allows me to get calmer and forget my worries. I admire how happy I get when I begin cooking. I find the process of deciding the meal's recipe for the preparation process as intriguing. I listen to music or podcasts; it allows me to sink into the moment and forget my troubles for a while. It's true to say that cooking helps me maintain my sanity.

I love cooking for my immediate and distant family members, even friends. I mean, is there another better way to express love and care rather than through culinary? I have the undying desire to make my beloved ones happy, and the best way I know how is through cooking. I like the praise and admiration that I get after I exceed the rational cooking expectations. I believe my mother taught me well. How would life be without our mothers? I think mine would be so frustrating since my mother made my life easier and taught me everything. As they say, charity does begin at home. I started cooking when I was only ten years old. I am the firstborn in a family with seven children; thus, I had to step up at an early age to help out my mother. The saying, 'if you can read, you can cook' is relatable since I could prepare complicated meals with great recipes. Not to blow my trumpet, but I always thought my exceptional cooking skills is a gift since I could tell my family always looked forward to my meals. It plays a significant role in improving my confidence and assertiveness, which are essential skills required in adulthood. I am a member of a book club with my closest friends who like coming over to my place and insisting that we dine the sweet and sour cabbage salad that I immerse in non-alcoholic red wine vinegar. I mean, who does not like Russian food?

Was your food mostly home prepared? By whom? Who did the grocery shopping? How much did you eat out? What are some of the recipes of the dishes you prepared?

99% of the time, meals get prepared at home by me. My son mentions that he finds it weird to eat food that isn't made by me. I see it as a hobby rather than a chore which fascinates individuals around me. Every week, I push myself to get innovative and create a variety of meals to curb my son's cravings. I rely on Mediterranean and Russian recipes to create exotic dishes to suit my family. My mother once mentioned that I make better meals than her.

I go out to the market and purchase tomatoes, onions, and other vegetables. I make sure to pick fresh groceries to promote healthiness. After work, I visit the market place where I explore the goods at different vendors before identifying the right ones. Dining in eateries can be fun, but we do not have control over the hygiene level used in preparing the meals. Recycling ingredients is inevitable in fast food establishments. Did they use the same frying oil yesterday? How many rounds did they clean the vegetables for the salads? It means that it's possible to experience food poisoning. So, in a week, a little part of my meals come from eating out.

Honestly, is there anything better than a homemade meal? Like many families in America, I mainly cook at home rather than going to fast food eateries. I am a food lover, so home-based cooking allows me to regulate my calorie intake and only eat diets within my keto plan. I realized that one of the most efficient ways of promoting healthy eating is to avoid fast joint foods since they contain a lot of fat, which raises my cholesterol level. My son is not a fan of quick joint meals, which is a relief because it helps me to save money to pay my weekly bills. I prepare most of my meals, but my family has a weakness for Mediterranean based fast foods. There is a food truck that sells all kinds of Greek cuisines near my home, once a week; I find myself going there with friends or take-outs after a long day at work.

Did you eat alone or in company? How was the experience of eating in company versus eating or cooking alone?

I always prefer eating with my family rather than dining alone. It creates a space where we share situations that are going on in our lives and bond as a family. It is a crime to miss the family brunches, Christmas dinners, and thanksgiving parties since it allows us to communicate and relate with each other. Isn't it obvious that I am a family person? I never miss such gatherings due to the endless love I feel for my close and distant relatives. During the past week, I attended a birthday party for my cousin, where I had dinner with my family. During regular days, I make it a culture for my son and me to enjoy breakfast and dinner. There is no better thing for me to do than spending extra time with my son. I get to hear all his silly jokes and experiences, which strengthens our relationship. I find eating alone as pathetic and sad unless I have something on my mind. Whenever I am stressed or unhappy, I tend to be more silent than usual. I think it's better that I only eat alone during such situations.

Usually, I don't mind cooking alone. It allows me to concentrate on measuring the ingredients and following the recipe. I would particularly advise anyone to cook alone when trying a method for the first time. It aids in avoiding confusion and panic when things don't go as planned. My son always nags me to join when I am baking Santa cookies or Russian pastries. He only plays with the flour, and it turns my kitchen into a mess. My son is only ten years old, but he gets so intrigued in learning how to cook. It's best to say; we bond when I am in the kitchen. He comes to keep me company while telling me how his day was after daycare. Do you know what makes me feel proud? My son always mentions that he would love to grow up to become a chef. During family gatherings, everybody chips in the kitchen, so it is rare for anyone to cook alone. We help each other out, and one can always hear loud laughing and giggling in the kitchen. When I have my friends over, I prefer to cook alone to have them in the kitchen since they act as destruction and barely help me.

What proportion of the food/drink you purchased during the week came from "fast food" establishments? What meals were "slow food" instead?

In a week, only 1% of our meals come from eateries or fast food joints. My family is old school, so they know the importance of creating healthy and fresh meals. I think that's one of the reasons I am not a fan of hotels, or we can just say I am a big introvert. I generally love to eat while in a peaceful environment so that I can just enjoy my food. During the week, I ought to eat Mediterranean vegetarian pies from a restaurant on Monday and Tuesday during my lunch breaks. I only eat out when I have no other option except starving. My toddler is always moody on Wednesday; thus, I get him a hotdog on my way home. It is the only thing that can lift his spirits after him having a hard day. On my way home on Sunday, my son insists that I buy him French fries, which I am totally against, but I let it be an exception. My son is my weakness, and he knows that. Frankly, when I was younger, I got obsessed with fast foods. I could eat onion fries, chicken burgers, and cheese pizzas as brunch, lunch and supper. I guess I changed for the better right? I reduced the number of times I eat fast foods and developed an interest in slow meals due to my medical condition. I love fresh produce such as fruits and vegetables, which I buy to squeeze and make juices also smoothies. Due to my insane love for crunchy meals, I bake potato chips to deal with my cravings. I feast the meal when watching my favourite late-night television shows.

How much, if any, of the food you ate during the week resonates with your sense of raci...