a different kind of creative

**The following post was written by guest contributor, Kimberley Bostic.**

I was raised by my Puerto Rican mother and some of my earliest memories are of her in the kitchen. I remember the sounds of pots and pans clanking around, the smell of garlic and onions cooking in olive oil, the look on her face as she stood over the stove. And when my family got together, there was always laughter and noise coming from the kitchen.  I quickly made the connection: kitchen/cooking = family/love. 

As I got older, I began to experiment in the kitchen, following recipes, helping my mom cook, visiting nice restaurants, and watching cooking shows. Over the past few years, I’ve started tweaking recipes more and more and making them my own. Many times, I don’t follow a recipe at all. Now that I’m a mother, one of my favorite things is spending time with my kids in the kitchen.

I understand that we are all very busy and that sometimes cooking can seem like just another chore. But I also understand what it feels like when your child walks in the house and says “Mmm, Mommy it smells good in here” or “Mommy, this is delicious.” Cooking, for me, is a way of showing my love. Of course, cooking has more practical benefits as well: it saves you money and is much healthier than restaurant or fast food.

I want to share my love of cooking with everyone I can by providing not just recipes, but key ingredients, spices and useful tips.  My influences are Hispanic, specifically Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Spanish. But I enjoy French and Italian cuisine as well. 

The first recipe I want to share is a simple, healthy dish that is packed with flavor: black beans & rice.