Balance – it’s been a struggle over the past year – new baby, new job, new adventures, new projects, new challenges. Sometimes I think I barely made it. And sometimes I think I could handle more (that’s the balance issue for you).

I used to cook regularly. I’d dream of becoming a chef. I’d spend a big part of my Sunday’s creating recipes I’d never tasted. Those days are mostly gone.

Although I did whip this up this afternoon

I would love to attend culinary school. If I ever retire (or win the lottery) – I want to become a chef. Perhaps own a small restaurant. Or travel around the world learning about new cultures and recipes.

I consider cooking a creative outlet. It’s up there with writing and photography for me. There’s the process, decision making and final creation. It’s shared, offered and provides. And people love food.

I haven’t cooked a meal in months. I made my son a scrambled egg recently. I sauteed some spinach a couple of weeks ago. Today I made carrot cake. It’s been a tough year for cooking! How can I find the time with a hectic job and a baby son?

It’s okay though. Cooking’s not going anywhere – unless we all start eating space meals.

Unknowingly, I redirected my creativity into other areas because of such big changes in life.

I try to be creative in my approach to fatherhood. I use my rare free time to write more than I ever have. I take photos whenever I can. I’m more thoughtful about the personal projects I undertake. I’m leading a healthier lifestyle to best cope with stress and lack of time. I’m more selective in what I watch or read. I’m starting a clothing line. I actually feel like I’m hitting my stride and I’m lucky to have a wife that does nothing but encourage me.

Looking through the lens - enjoying photography

So cooking might be on the back burner, but I’ve learned that through the challenges – both personal and professional, I’ve not slowed down. I’m still creating and I’m definitely growing.

I think that one of the characteristics of creativity. It’s not something that can be suppressed. It always finds a way to emerge, even if you may not know it at the time.

I’m not cooking much anymore, but I’m creating more than ever – with less time, more responsibilities, and one year older.

Here’s to finding balance…

Pretty Singaporean Sandwiches

As I often do – I use these posts to highlight images from my Flickr account. So that’s what I’m doing to day. It’s a fluff post, with me showing off some of my fave food pics. Hopefully with some witty banter thrown in.

Trifle

Trifle is one of the greatest desserts in the world. It’s also British and I have perfected the art of making it. So in yo face. I make it annually.

Prawn Cocktail Crisps

Crisps (or chips) are tasty. England also makes the greatest crisps in the world – including my favorite flavor, Prawn Cocktail. Delicious with a Pimms cup.

Spanish food

Everyone always says how great Spanish food is. I don’t understand that statement. It’s pork hyperbole. Plain and simple.

Dino Egg

I love eggs. I love dinos. I love this image. I’ve written about this pic, here. That’s all.

Those are some of my food rants. Do you have something to say?

I also created a Flickr group called I love to eat! Check out the slideshow.

It’s a collaboration with Casey Mullins – who’s a photographer, writer, Moosh in Indy, pretty funny human, friend, mother and lots more.

you see it differently that DOT me

We’re in cahoots on this new project that combines the written word and photography. We met for lunch one day and had it all figured out before I had eaten my 3rd wedge of quesadilla.

I’m lucky. Casey get thousands of web hits a day. I celebrate when I get double digits. I’m glad she agreed to collaborate on this. She also wrote about this project, here. Notice all the comments? Yep.

Our project is a simple concept.

We take turns picking one of our photographs from Flickr. We both write about the image, without consulting the other. The post is then published as one – two sides of the story, one pic. Pretty cool, huh?

We both take it very seriously. We both believe in it. It’s still in it’s infancy. We’re still figuring it out. And we both think you’ll enjoy it.

Would we lie to you?