A Midwestern Girl's Food Journey
- cozycuriosa
- Jun 6
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 23
Growing up in a small Midwestern town in the 70s and 80s, life was simple—and so was the food. We were a classic meat-and-potatoes family. Dinner was predictable, comforting, and never too fancy. Spaghetti night felt exotic. Tacos? A rare event, usually from a boxed kit. And anything with ingredients you couldn’t pronounce? Forget about it.
So, when I moved to Washington, DC in the early 90s, I felt like I had stepped into another world—culinarily speaking. Suddenly, there were Thai restaurants, Ethiopian cafés, sushi bars, and French bistros all within blocks of each other. I was fascinated. Curious. And most importantly hungry.
To my credit, I dove in headfirst. I tried everything. Pho, falafel, pad Thai, dim sum—I was game to try almost anything. It was like my palate had been living in black and white, and suddenly, it was in technicolor. Each new dish was a revelation. Food became a kind of adventure, a passport to cultures I had never experienced.
You’d think that with this love affair with flavor and variety, I would have learned to cook—especially once I started a family. But somehow, despite the best intentions (and a kitchen full of cookbooks), I never quite made the leap from enthusiastic eater to confident home chef.
That is—until I finally invested in the right tools. What I didn’t realize back then is how much easier (and more fun) cooking becomes when you have high-quality cookware. A well-balanced chef’s knife, a nonstick sauté pan that actually stays nonstick, and a Dutch oven that goes from stovetop to oven without skipping a beat—these aren’t just kitchen items.
They’re game-changers. Having the right cookware gave me the confidence to experiment, try new techniques, and cook meals that actually worked. Whether it’s simmering a curry, searing scallops, or baking a crusty loaf of bread, it turns out having the right equipment matters just as much as the ingredients.
If you’re like me—someone who loves food but is just learning to embrace cooking—I highly recommend starting with quality cookware. It’s an investment in yourself, your creativity, and your kitchen.
My Two Must-Have Kitchen Essentials
I’ve had this set for over two years, and I can’t imagine my kitchen without it. Not only is it beautifully designed and aesthetically pleasing (yes, cookware can be pretty!), but it also delivers exceptional performance.
Pros:
Truly nonstick: Food glides off the pan—even eggs and sauces.
Toxin-free: Free of PTFE, PFOA, and other harmful chemicals.
Easy to clean: Wipes clean with minimal effort.
Even heat distribution: No hot spots; everything cooks evenly.
Stylish storage system: Comes with magnetic racks and a canvas lid holder.
Cons:
Not dishwasher safe: Hand-washing is required to maintain the coating.
Heavier than expected: Especially the sauté pan.
Pricey: It’s an investment, but one that pays off in durability and ease.
For busy weeknights or slow Sunday dinners, my Crock-Pot is a lifesaver. From soups to stews to pulled pork, it does the heavy lifting, so I don’t have to.
Pros:
Set-it-and-forget-it convenience: Perfect for working parents or beginner cooks.
Large capacity: Great for batch cooking and feeding a family.
Programmable settings: Easy to customize cooking times and temperatures.
Affordable and reliable.
Cons:
Takes up counter space
Longer cook times: Patience required—but worth it.
Lacks searing functionality: You’ll need a separate pan for browning meats first.
If you’re thinking about stepping up your cooking game, these two tools are a great place to start. Whether you’re just discovering your inner chef or looking to make mealtime a little easier, the right cookware can make all the difference.
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