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Cooking with Heart: Nicky’s Story

    Home MP Blog Cooking with Heart: Nicky’s Story
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    Cooking with Heart: Nicky’s Story

    By Barbara Boretsky | MP Blog | 1 comment | 3 February, 2017 | 3

    Nicky concentrates on the task at hand, examining each bell pepper carefully before placing it on the cutting board. It’s passed her rigorous inspection and will be included in the vegetables prepped for today.

    “She’s very meticulous,” says Culinary Coordinator, Diana, “the amount of pride and detail that goes into it- she will actually tell you if she doesn’t want you to serve something.”

    Quiet (and ostensibly shy), newcomers might never guess that Nicky’ victory comes in the form of being a kitchen dynamo. As one of the original 12 HIPsters to gain their Food Handler’s License, she’s always been drawn to the kitchen and culinary arts. When she first began attending My Possibilities, she participated in cooking class after cooking class- showcasing a growing skill and aptitude for not only cooking, but creating as well.

    “There’s a reason the salad on the Standard Menu is named after her,” says Diana “she created it from start to finish- the dressing, what went in it. When people order her salad or she sees it on the menu, she lights up.”

    But for Nicky, food is more than just a source of pride. Although Nicky communicates primarily through gestures and sign language, when she cooks, another language comes to life.

    “She’s taken her love of culinary, and turned it into a way to communicate what she can’t verbally say. She knows what she wants to say, and she expresses it with food.” Diana says.

    In addition to being a tool for communicating with other HIPsters and Staff, food has become a way for her to showcase her newfound independence.

    “She led [a] class in making tamales- when she couldn’t say ‘Step one, step two, step three…’ she sat there and showed all of us how to do it. If I was going too fast, she would [sign to] me ‘pay attention’. She would do the sign for pay attention and then she would just kind of get into her zone.” says Diana.

    For many, cooking may seem like one more chore, but for Nicky it’s an outlet for creative expression and communication. Each time she creates a new recipe or preps a meal is a #biglittlevictory that reimagines what’s possible for others like her.

    For more information on our Catering services, click here. To learn about our Culinary program, click here.

    #BigLittleVictories, 2017, Nikki

    Barbara Boretsky

    More posts by Barbara Boretsky

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    1 comment

    • Sandy Lewis Reply February 4, 2017 at 2:05 pm

      I am so proud of my Nicky!!!

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    • News
      • Sun Club
      • #aMPlified HIPster Voices
      • MP in Motion Blog
      • Press Releases
        • PRESS RELEASE: SCOTT + REID PRESENTS MY POSSIBILITIES ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
        • PRESS RELEASE: PROMOTING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION FOR AUTISTIC LEARNERS
        • PRESS RELEASE: My Possibilities Announces Groundbreaking of New Career Services Building
        • PRESS RELEASE — INNOVATIVE BUSINESS LEADER JOINS MY POSSIBILITIES AS  CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
        • PRESS RELEASE — MY POSSIBILITIES WELCOMES KAREN WALD AS NEW CHAIR OF THE BOARD
        • PRESS RELEASE — MY POSSIBILITIES FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD CHARMAINE SOLOMON TAKES ON NEW ROLE
        • PRESS RELEASE — IKEA DONATES ESSENTIAL LEARNING SUPPLIES TO HELP ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
        • PRESS RELEASE — CAPITAL ONE AWARDS LOCAL NONPROFIT A GRANT FOR ONLINE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
        • PRESS RELEASE — MY POSSIBILITIES RECEIVES HEALTHY KIDS, HEALTHY FAMILIES GRANT FROM BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS
        • PRESS RELEASE — POPULAR ONLINE RETAILER MAKES PLANO HOME
        • PRESS RELEASE — MY POSSIBILITIES, SOAP HOPE NAMED D CEO 2020 SOCIAL ENTERPRISE WINNER
        • PRESS RELEASE — SCOTT + REID PRESENTS MY POSSIBILITIES ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
        • PRESS RELEASE — NORTH TEXAS FOR-CAUSE ORGANIZATION TO PHASE REOPENING
        • PRESS RELEASE — NORTH TEXAS NONPROFIT ANNOUNCES RE-IMAGINED ANNUAL EVENTS
        • PRESS RELEASE — MY POSSIBILITIES AND ALLIANCE DATA POSTPONE A SPECIAL EVENING WITH WAYNE BRADY
        • PRESS RELEASE — MY POSSIBILITIES AND SOAP HOPE JOIN FORCES, LAUNCH INCLUSIVE EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE

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