Several years ago, it was my great fortune to be able to travel to Europe with my mom. At the time all of my children were out of diapers, yet they were little and independence amounted to dressing themselves and buckling their own seatbelts. Because I believed they needed one parent’s undivided attention and college tuition seemed a far-off prospect, I mothered them full time at home. With relative freedom I was able to spirit away with Mom for a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

There was one other offer I could not refuse: The most trusted men in my life would fill in for me and take care of the kids while we jetted to Europe.

So off we went, hardly looking back as the kids, my husband and Dad waved good-bye. And what fun we had! Because it proved to be a difficult task deciding which area we wanted to visit most during the planning stages, we chose the whirlwind tour. We reasoned that a taste of many locations would broaden our understanding of Europe. God willing, a future trip to Europe would be somewhat easier to plan as we would have some idea where we’d like to visit in greater depth.

Viewing televised coverage of the Vatican and the history-making events that continue to surround the upcoming papal conclave have been especially enjoyable for me because at one point during that tour I stood in St. Peter’s Square. I purchased a rosary for my dear friend Jane at a Vatican store just inside the premises and stood among a large crowd, there to watch as a group of Spanish Cardinals with their beautiful red smocks and skull caps were ordained. The detectable energy that filled the air, the music, and watching the Pope lead the ceremony before blessing the crowd are treasured memories for me, adding a depth of understanding to the media’s coverage of recent events.

And the food … can’t forget the Italian pizza I ate that day. It was magnificent and the memory of biting into such a well balanced slice stays with me, all these years later. That’s because the very best of ingredients were used and not one element overpowered the other. The crust was hand-tossed and near crispy. The tomatoes were bold, acidic and zesty. The olive oil so deep and flavorful the married tastes lingered in my mouth long after the meal ended. Then there was the basil, creamy fresh mozzarella and just a sprinkle of a regional parmesan.

It was the start to a love of great food that continues to this day. In fact, I returned with a mission to learn how to cook well and realized not only would I need quality ingredients but I would also want to learn solid cooking techniques. As a result, I have become an avid cookbook collector and cooking is my favorite way to relax.

Yes, I am one of those people who borrows cookbooks from the library and amuses myself during off moments by reading them. I also look in on Public Television’s “America’s Test Kitchen” like any number of my friends watch “CSI.” My absolute favorite cookbooks at the moment are companions to the show. If you have cooking questions and want to wow your friends and family members, both sources provide two great ways to make that happen.

That’s because America’s Test Kitchen is a group of editors, recipe developers, test cooks, ingredient tasters, equipment testers, and scientists united with one goal in mind: noteworthy food home chefs can create. One night this week I made a stir-fried beef and broccoli dish with oyster sauce that I’m still remembering with satisfaction days later. It was so good, in fact, I hid the leftovers in the back of the fridge and sneaked them out of the house to enjoy during my own lunch the next day.

Shame on me, but I was the cook, after all!

The secret here were the ingredients. I aimed for complete authenticity and to find the best I ventured into foreign territory: the Asian section of a local grocery store. While there I connected with the manager who was extremely helpful as she steered me to her best oils and oyster sauce selections. What fun that trip was! Once I gathered the fresh produce and meat, I then hurried home to carefully follow the preparation steps that included uniform slicing and tossing quickly over high heat.

It reminds me of the ways I have approached matters of faith, all these years. Many times I have experienced strong and deep spiritual longings that have only been satisfied by venturing into foreign territories and meeting new people of faith. It has also involved diving deeply into the Bible, then asking God to help me be brave and trusting enough to follow His recipes with exactness.

God has never once let me down, for He is the recipe to love and hope, strength and peace, forgiveness and eternity.

Freelance writer Joan Bay Klope’s e-mail address is jbklope@hotmail.com.