by Delayne Terra Buranek

Created on: March 16, 2009

I grew up as a child to working class parents. They were busy people working and trying to support the family. We weren't hard up, but we lived frugally. Time was important as money, and both were not in abundance. As a result our eating habits became contingent upon both. That meant a lot of store brand boxes and cans, full meals in minutes. This was how I ate when I grew up, and it became how I cooked. That was until I met someone. She was my boss, my mentor, and my friend. She showed me the way.

It was my second summer of college when I was first working for her. She was a graduate student who required students to help her collect her data for her thesis. I was lucky to get employment that had housing especially considering how far from home I was. So I lived with her and the rest of that crew that summer. But with the rest of the crew there we left meals up to each individual and I stuck with what I knew eating from boxes and cans.

Her data collection wasn't done after that first summer and she required more assistance. Only this time it was just her and I. And after working together for so long we'd become good friends. I was one of the few people in the department that gave her crap for being a vegetarian. With just two of us living with each other for the summer we found it easier to share the cooking responsibilities for some of the time.

It started out with her cooking mostly and me helping. Her dietary requirements were pickier than mine, especially considering that I'd pretty much eat anything. The whole process was the way grandmothers teach their granddaughters the secrets of their holiday pastries. I watched, grabbing this or that when requested to do so, and listened as it was explained step by step.

We got to the point were at least once a week, I'd be on my own to cook dinner. It was all so simple. She was a good cook because she had to be. It is difficult to be a healthy vegetarian if you don't know how to. I understood this because of a girl I went to high school with who lived off of cheese pizza and nachos. That was closer to the junk I was regularly consuming. And not only was I learning how to cook, but I was eating healthier. Most of the recipes could be altered easily. A simple addition of an animal protein would make it a complete meal for an omnivore like me.

She's no longer a vegetarian, but prefers environmentally friendly, organic, free-range types of meat. And even though I'm completely confident I can prepare a meal now I rarely ever do. I still eat healthy, I just found someone to share my life with who enjoys cooking a lot more than me.

Learn more about this author, Delayne Terra Buranek.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.