Food is Love

My mom is an excellent home chef – she can make anything, from traditional Cuban meals to festive baked goods during the holidays. We often watch cooking shows together, oohing and ahhing at all the delicious recipes showcased on screen. When she preps dinner, I’ll sit at the kitchen table as we talk about our day and whatever’s in the news. My boyfriend and I are continuing that ritual, as we try new recipes and share delicious meals and conversations together.

Cooking in my house is also an example of interdependence. I can’t cook because of my physical disability, but I still have that passion for food and creating new dishes. That means I love to watch others cook, and be the hands-free sous-chef. Through taste testing, I know when to add more salt, and can specify what that weird flavor is when a meal doesn’t come out right. I’ll read the recipes, and offer tips on what would make a good side dish. Cooking isn’t just about the physical aspect of pouring, stirring, kneading, and cutting; it’s about infusing the dish with conversations around the stove, the family history we preserve in each meal, and the traditions we uphold and pass down through each generation. For me, food is love, home, comfort, and community.

In keeping with that theme of community, I want to share with you one of our beloved holiday cookie recipes – pecan butter rounds. I hope you and your loved ones enjoy.  

Pecan Butter Rounds

½ cup butter or margarine (1 stick), softened

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 3-ounce can pecans, finely chopped (1 cup)

¼ cup confectioners’ sugar

About 1 ½ hours before serving or early in day:

1. In bowl, with hand, mix all ingredients, except confectioners’ sugar until well blended.

2. Preheat oven to 325F. With hands, shape dough into 1-inch balls; place about 1 inch apart, on ungreased cookie sheets.

3. Bake cookies 20 to 25 minutes until set but not brown. Remove cookies to wire racks to cool.

4. Enjoy!

Want to read more about disability and food accessibility? Check out the recap from our food and disability Twitter chat!