Dear Milligan Students,
Food is a central part of our lives. We schedule our days around it. We crave it when we are bored. We socialize around it. We even celebrate the last supper with it. Just like we talk about the weather, seldom does a day go by that we don’t talk about food. We are completely obsessed with it. Have you ever stopped and really thought about how crazy this idea is? Of course, we have to eat to survive, and common sense would tell us that the most enjoyable part of food is the actual tasting and eating experience.
However, I want to make a proposition that might seem bizarre. I propose that during meals, we focus less on the actual consumption of food and more on the creation of it, taking dull ingredients and combining them into something brand new. Creativity and innovation should be our goal. If the food we make tastes good, that’s just an added bonus. What is more beneficial and valuable in our lives is the pursuit of creating something new. Simply put, the enjoyment we receive from consuming food pales in comparison to the joy we can get when we create something entirely new, turning a few unassuming ingredients into a unique idea.
As humans created in God’s image, we are blessed with the ability to create. When we display our creativity, we get a glimpse of the One who grants that gift to us. In that instant, we are able to reflect a small fragment of his glory. Creativity is all around us. It is in everyone and everything, even when we fail to notice it.
We students love to complain in the cafeteria. We do such a good job at it, that many of us are resigned to habitually eating cereal when there isn’t anything familiar in the main line. Most of the time, we don’t even take the time to survey the ingredients that are available to us.
Here is my advice: Rather than accept the fact that none of the cafeteria’s dishes excite you, take matters into your own hands and create something that does. Take note of all the items that the cafeteria carries and think of a way to form unlikely combinations.
Use chipotle or pesto sauce from the sandwich bar in your pasta bowl. Combine savory and sweet flavors by cutting thin apple slices to add to your grilled ham and cheese sandwich. Even something as simple as throwing a few ingredients inside a roll and microwaving it will give you something unique every time. You simply cannot fail.
Like I said, the purpose is not to create something that you would find at a five-star restaurant. Just try something new and make it a dish that you are proud of. If it tastes good, great! Share it with others. If you got a little too crazy with your dish and your friends give you looks of horror, go back to the drawing board and try something else. Learn from mistakes, but have fun through it all. Even if you never make something that others would consider delicious, the process of inventing dishes on your own is incredibly satisfying and is a fun break from the daily grind. It is often one of the highlights of my day. There is no right or wrong way to cook. To quote Chef Gusteau from Disney Pixar’s Ratatouille,” You must be imaginative, strong-hearted. You must try things that may not work, and you must not let anyone define your limits because of where you come from. Your only limit is your soul. What I say is true –anyone can cook… but only the fearless can be great.”
On March 16, watch Stampede TV for a new episode of “The Help” that will give you specific ideas to overcome your cafeteria woes.
Until then: Be creative. Be inspired. Get to it.
Sincerely,
Peter Nelson
milliganstampede
