FALL COOKING :: SETTING THE VIBES
With fall and the holiday season upon us, we are being flooded with warming scents and flavors that are very specific to this time of year. This makes it even easier (and equally as exciting) to curate your kitchen and your meal prepping time to be more like an occasion rather than another mundane task.
I like the idea of setting a mood, also known as creating a vibe. I wish I was better at setting moods while cleaning but I haven’t made it there yet. What I have found, though, is I understand better how to create an inspirational environment while preparing meals.
Here’s a few things that I currently do while cooking (and a few things that I’d like to add to the routine) that I hope you can add to your own fall food cooking time:
Sweet scents to compliment savory dishes
I’m not much of a candle person, but I do love incense. Especially when cooking a meal that features spices like turmeric, cloves, cayenne, ginger, or paprika, incense with a sweet smell can add an extra layer to the spices that transports you right to your favorite Caribbean or Indian eating spots.
However, incense is an acquired taste, and perhaps overwhelming to some. So for a softer smell while possibly making a simple soup or stew, light a vanilla, cinnamon, or pumpkin scented candle. I promise it will make meal time all the more cozy.
Dress it up with a cute apron
I’ve never had an apron, but I’m totally thinking about getting ahold of one. I’m a true believer in the statement that putting work into your appearance can make life all the more enjoyable because of how it boosts the confidence within your own self.
Imagine a cute apron in a fall orange, red, or green color scheme. It may have pockets, and nice thick straps for comfortable attachment to your body. I’d also like to get one with a bit of feminine flair, because divas can be in the kitchen too.
Arranging ingredients
When it comes to the fresh fruits and veggies I may use in a meal, I admire their various colors and textures the most. I’ve found that it also organizes my mind to arrange produce by color and size, making them look perfect photo ready. I may also take out a bag of rice here, or some almond milk there, creating a curated spread of ingredients for me to work with. Doing this gets me excited for what all of the different items will become once I finish cooking.
Do you have a playlist?
As a music junkie, I pretty much am listening to music all of the time. Do you create playlists often? Something I’d like to start doing is creating playlists specifically for cooking time.
With fall being my favorite time of year, between spooky season and me generally feeling more relaxed, I tend to want to play music with minor tones, creepy feels, or a slower tempo. Songs like this really get me in my feels and makes me feel like the moment is more than me just being in my kitchen cooking.
Serve it right
Plating isn’t just for top chefs and influencers. I think that you should plate pretty even if there’s no photo to be taken.
One of my favorite meals to serve are ones in bowls. Something about placing veggies, a protein and a sauce over either rice or pasta feels so satisfying.
Serving my food in a visually pleasing way feels like it adds to the flavor, and makes me more excited to eat it, as if I just got served a luxury meal at a 5 star restaurant.
Decide where to eat and continue the vibe there
Maybe it's movie night, or you've got guests coming. Either way, the follow through is just as important as setting the mood during food preparation time. I prefer to eat in a dimly lit room, with a blanket and something comforting on television. But depending on the time of day, I may even clean the office space in my sun room and enjoy my food in the suns rays surrounded by my birds of paradise plants.
Romanticizing how you enjoy your meal is a great way to get cozy and honor the hard work you put in to make something delicious.
ABOUT NAIMAH
Naimah is a 25+ year vegan model, designer, and artist after being converted to the lifestyle at only 2 years old by her parents. Growing up she was taught to prepare meals using whole foods and plant-based meat substitutes, and was educated on the variety of benefits and motivations behind having a vegan diet. Her ways of eating sparked conversations with her peers in adulthood, leading Naimah to become interested in exploring the boundlessness of vegan cuisine.
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