The Seduction of Food
By Linda R. O’Connell
2008

How I love the sweet seductive fragrance
of slowly sautéing onions.
The unbearable vivid redness
of roasted peppers.
Or engaging in the sensual slow dance
of eating an artichoke.
Oh, let everyone be empathetic
to the passion of food.

I love to savor the creaminess
of a mushroom tender to my bite.
And the peppery tang
of fresh picked baby arugula!
To notice the surprisingly elegant
and delicate taste of celery.
Or the ravishment of bright
green asparagus in spring.

There’s nothing more satisfying
than being witness to the marriage of
pungent garlic cloves to hectic red tomatoes,
whispering a slow simmer on top of the stove.
Or the crackling of the riotous beef cubes
browning in the headiness of the
olive oil and butter, preparing a stew.

Can anyone comprehend
the pleasure of it all?
The grip of this astounding
adventure I am on?
Just think of the brussel sprout…
so amusing, and nutty to the taste.
A miniature cabbage unfathomable
when roasted and paired
up with Italian pancetta.
.Or the sugary sweetness of carrots,
disguising themselves as candy.
And what warms the heart and soul
more than composing a minestrone soup
on a blustery winter night?
Flavors melding all day long,
aromas wafting through the house?

Let us not forget the attitude
of fresh basil in a dish……
In wedded bliss with heirloom tomatoes
and buffalo mozzarella
at the end of September…..
Heaven on earth!
The pleasures of cooking...
You just might fall in love!