AS a kid, I would watch my Mommy, my dad's sister, as she painstakingly covered the entire dinner table with newspaper. That to me meant only one thing -- chocolate cake with fudgy chocolate icing. Mommy was not a big cook, but every time she wanted to, she baked cake.

And until now, my cousins and I remember the taste and texture of her chocolate cake and its fudgy chocolate icing.

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My maternal aunts, on the other hand, were big on cooking and baking. My grandfather used to run his own restaurant and bakery. And up to this day, the bakery survives after more than enough changes in management. Growing up, I have been exposed to good food and good cooking.

In college, I was living on my own and started to experiment in the kitchen. My aunt also tried to teach me to bake some of our family recipes. And I was addicted to shows on the Lifestyle Channel. This led my Mommy to enroll me to culinary classes.

Weeks ago, my cousins, aunts and I watched Julie & Julia, based on the book with the same title by Julie Powell. Needless to say, I love it. We all did. The movie was very much about how cooking and baking helped the two protagonists make a difference in their lives. For Julia Child (Meryl Streep), cooking and baking helped her cope with her husband's hectic career.

For Julie Powell (Amy Adams), it gave her a goal to achieve and pulled her out of her miserable life.

But the movie was not just about cooking and baking. It is also about love and passion. And I, for one, was able to relate really well with the movie -- cooking, baking, blogging, and loving all in one movie.

But I'm sure a lot of people will also love it and can relate to it. Even if they don't cook or bake or blog. Because we can all relate to love.

Both Julie and Julia dedicated themselves to cooking not for the sake of cooking, but because of love. They were both passionate about different things. Julia loved her husband and eating, while Julie loved writing. While focused on different things, their passions each brought them to food and cooking.

And their passion for food and cooking has helped shape their lives and those of their husbands. Julia Child, needless to say, introduced to American housewives and people everywhere the Art of French Cooking and how any person, any simple person who wants to cook can cook, and cook well.

And until she died, Julia Child was and is one of the most revered and respected chefs of all time. Julie Powell, on the hand, blogged about cooking and her passion for Julia Child. And the blog has become a book and a movie.

I share their passion. Passion to cook and bake, to serve the best there is to the people who matter to me. I've been told (more than once, sad to say) that I am addicted to baking and cooking. And I am. I am addicted to making the delicious meals and pastries. And I find it so satisfying when people, especially those who matter to me, love the dishes I cook and pastries I bake.

And I am passionate about writing and blogging, as well. And I was able to relate to Julie saying that she might have ADD because I feel like I am like that sometimes. Interested and wanting to do so many things.

I was so in love with the movie, that when my cousin coaxed me to cook Boeuf Bourguinon (Beef Stew in Red Wine, with Bacon, Onions, and Mushrooms), I did.
Live blogging my experience in cooking the dish chronicled the arduous process of cooking each component of the dish, cooking alternately in the stove top and in the oven, waiting for the beef to tenderize, and the vegetables to cook was an exhilarating experience. And somehow, I felt connected to Julie and Julia.

It was not just an exercise in cooking. But a test of patience and stamina.

Then, I truly understood why some people say that the real secret ingredient in cooking well is love. Because when you love cooking, and you love serving people, you are willing to take extra care in preparing and cooking the dish, making sure that it is perfect, something they will enjoy eating.

And though it was a long, painful process, I thoroughly enjoyed it and got such a high when my guests ate it and loved every part of it.