What does a Home Cook and a Potion Master have in common?

If you know anything about me you know that I am a huge Harry Potter fan. I love the books and I enjoy the movies. 

The other thing you probably know about me is that I love to cook. 

For me in book one when Snape come crashing into his laboratory and says, “There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don’t expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making. However, for those select few who possess, the predisposition…I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death.”

As he wraps himself in his robes, raising his back to his full height and speaks those words I can feel the power and excitement of being a potions master. For me cooking is my equivalent of being a potions master. As I chop, dice, measure, sauté food to perfection, I feel myself being wrapped in my culinary robes, raising my back to my fullest height and saying, “There will be no foolish pre-shopped vegetables or silly pre-made sauces in my kitchen. As such, I don’t expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is a master chef. However, for those select few who possess, the predisposition …I can bewitch your mind and ensnare your sense with my food. I can bottle my fame from a pot that cooked over a flame, I can brew my glory with a swirl of my wooden spoon and I can even put a sauce over pasta that will leave you desirous to the point of death.”

This is the point that I usually chuckle at myself and think, “Really, Dianna? It’s just food.” However, nothing gives me more satisfaction, more boost of self-esteem then seeing someone put a bit of my food in their mouth and enjoy the tastes, texture and complexity or subtitles of the flavors. It is the most gratifying of accomplishments that go beyond the gratification of being a mother. 

So I proclaim on this day, March 31, 2015 that I, Dianna Fresh am a potions master of my kitchen and strive to “bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death.”