Cooking wasn't something i started doing early even though i had always loved to cook. If i can remember quite well, the first time i was entrusted by my Mom to handle the cooking for the family was when i was Seventeen. Learning to cook at that age wasn't quite the culture at the time.
I'm not sure if my desire to cook was born out of being delayed the go ahead to cook something up for the family.
I would always hang around the kitchen and watch my Mom or elder Sisters do the magic. The idea of being in the kitchen, mixing things up and preparing a delicious delicacy for everyone to eat made me excited and eager. I would always think to myself; "if i was the one doing the cooking i would add this or that spice or do it this way, it would taste much better." While washing the dishes i would always imagine myself being a premium chef and cooking something everyone would praise me for.
When i was finally allowed to cook my first meal, it was jollof rice. The aroma was everywhere and my siblings were already coming into the kitchen to 'hail' me. When i was done with the cooking, even though it looked nice and delicious, i could swear that 'the whole Lot's wife' was in that food. I practically cooked Salt and with a touch of Rice!
Thank God my Mom didn't discouraged me.
My second attempt was something else. The 'Okro soup' was okay but you could use the 'eba' to throw a bird dead to the ground. It was as strong as stone. My siblings hid to throw their 'Swallow' out the fence so they don't hurt my feelings but i caught them and ask them to throw mine as well. Hahaha
I kept on improving and learning how to do things better, i would ask questions and watched YouTube videos a lot.
I did so much better and everyone was happy when it was my turn to cook because i always gave them a twist, something new and delicious.
My love for cooking easily extended into Baking. I started to explore pasteries and by the side i would watch some YouTube videos for tips then i would do my thing. I don't mean to blow my trumpet but it always came out so mouth-watering. Sometimes i would surprise myself with the outcome. Whenever i travelled to a new place, it wouldn't take so long for those around me to know i am good in the Kitchen.
Baking came so easily to me even without paying to learn professionally, so i decided to start a business off it. The turn out was as expected, people really loved my pasteries and before you know it, my name was everywhere in the area.
Presently, i am doing the Pastery business basically, but i really look forward to having a full restaurant so i can explore across various foods and the World can have a taste of my own Magic.