The Food Blogger's Creed

Over the past few months, I have reread Stephen King's Dark Tower series for the first time since it was completed in 2004. It's a tremendous and powerful cycle of stories, and it is a masterpiece of modern storytelling.

In the books, the main character Roland brings some people from our world into his world and begins to teach them the ways of the Gunslingers. He teaches them to hunt, to shoot, and to recite the Gunslinger's Creed:

I do not aim with my hand; he who aims with his hand has forgotten the face of his father. I aim with my eye.
I do not shoot with my hand; he who shoots with his hand has forgotten the face of his father. I shoot with my mind.
I do not kill with my gun; he who kills with his gun has forgotten the face of his father. I kill with my heart.
I really love the rhythm of that saying, and the words gain power within the books as the characters recite them as they learn how to use their guns. They also admonish each other not to forget the face of their fathers when faced with difficult decisions.


As much as I love the gunslinger's creed, it doesn't have much to do with my own life. I doubt I'll find myself in Mid-World, fighting against the powers of the Red, anytime soon. But the saying was still stuck in my head, and for days, I kept turning it over, trying to find a way to make it mine.

Over the past year of writing this blog, I've read thousands of other people's food posts, and I've met quite a few fellow food bloggers. I'd like to think that I've learned a few things from all of them, and hopefully someone has learned a little something from me as well. A common theme amongst many food bloggers seems to be a commitment to preserving particular recipes and activities, especially special family recipes. Many bloggers talk about the influence that they gained from their mothers, grandmothers, or aunts. Slowly but surely, the Food Blogger's Creed began to come together.

I do not eat with my hand; she who eats with her hand has forgotten the face of her mother. I eat with my fork.
I do not eat with my mouth; she who eats with her mouth has forgotten the face of her mother. I eat with my eyes.
I do not eat with my stomach; she who eats with her stomach has forgotten the face of her mother. I eat with my heart.
I know it doesn't hold quite the same resonance as the original, but I think it sums up a lot of what food writers talk about. As I continue on into my second year with this blog, I will remind myself not to forget the face of my mother.