Friday, January 2, 2009
Time to relax
With the busyness of Christmas, I found no time to write. Instead, I put myself in low gear and did quite a bit of reading, knitting and sleeping. I think I am now ready to get back to a routine and get myself busy in the kitchen. We are having friends over tonight so Chicken in wine with a nice salad and lemon custard will bring me back to reality, Jim's brother who makes wine as a hobby offered us a large bottle so we'll have to enjoy that as well! I'll have some new recipes soon. Happy New Year everybody!
The joy of reading
Today a walk at the park brought us frisky deer and an amazing sunset. The sky was on fire shooting ribbons of pink toward the rising full moon. Each walk each day reflects a different mood just like our work day never comes out exactly like the one before. I’ve learned to appreciate those changing moments and live them fully.
It has been cold for walking but somehow that makes us move a little faster and then we feel so cozy when we get back to the house. These days I’ve been working on carving woodblocks for printing. There’s also time to make cookies, write notes to friends and read books. I’ve always enjoyed reading. When I was small, I remember my mother reading to me at bedtime, then later reading on my own whenever I had indoor free time. Vacation time always meant having several good books in hand to read together or on our own. Once I had a family, we continued the tradition. I was often working the night shift so Jim was the reader to our girls. As an adult reading to a child, my perspective changed. I reread the books I had read with a new eye. And sometimes reading out loud to my daughters relaxed me so much I would start to nod off while mid-sentence! A “Mama!” would call me back to reality and we would finish the chapter before turing out the lights.
Part of our weekly routine included a trip to the library to check out a pile of books from the children’s section. We liked all kinds: pictures only, pictures and words, mostly words, fiction and nonfiction, hands-on. Several authors or illustrators would catch our fancy and then we had to check out all their books. Such was the case with Peter Spier. Today I remembered the book, Christmas, that we would look at together during the holidays and I had to go down to the basement and find it among the boxes of books that we have stashed away. His very human drawings of the holiday season with funny little details that small eyes like to find made us believe in the magic of the season.
So instead of a recipe today, I’d like to leave you with the titles of a few cookbooks that I have enjoyed over the years. These books have given me the passion to pursue food making in all its joy, mystery and beauty. Maybe these will be gifts for someone you know. Or just go to your public library and check them out. (If your library does not carry them, they can get them for you through inter-library loan.)
Barefoot in Paris by Ina Garten -- Lovely simple and tasteful recipes based on French living.
You’ll love the Rich Chocolate Tart recipe.
Moosewood Restaurant Daily Specials -- A delightful and flavorful vegetarian cookbook
Laurel’s Kitchen Bread Book by Laurel Robertson and Carol Flinders-- A complete primer on breadbaking with whole wheat flour.
The Complete Book of Breads by Bernard Clayton -- The book that got me started on my baking adventure
Saveur Cooks Authentic French -- A beautifully illustrated cookbook that will make you pick up and go to France
While I’m on Christmas vacation, I know I will be spending time in the kitchen but also leafing through cookbooks for more ideas on enjoying good food. And a good, smart novel will keep me out of trouble for a couple days!
It has been cold for walking but somehow that makes us move a little faster and then we feel so cozy when we get back to the house. These days I’ve been working on carving woodblocks for printing. There’s also time to make cookies, write notes to friends and read books. I’ve always enjoyed reading. When I was small, I remember my mother reading to me at bedtime, then later reading on my own whenever I had indoor free time. Vacation time always meant having several good books in hand to read together or on our own. Once I had a family, we continued the tradition. I was often working the night shift so Jim was the reader to our girls. As an adult reading to a child, my perspective changed. I reread the books I had read with a new eye. And sometimes reading out loud to my daughters relaxed me so much I would start to nod off while mid-sentence! A “Mama!” would call me back to reality and we would finish the chapter before turing out the lights.
Part of our weekly routine included a trip to the library to check out a pile of books from the children’s section. We liked all kinds: pictures only, pictures and words, mostly words, fiction and nonfiction, hands-on. Several authors or illustrators would catch our fancy and then we had to check out all their books. Such was the case with Peter Spier. Today I remembered the book, Christmas, that we would look at together during the holidays and I had to go down to the basement and find it among the boxes of books that we have stashed away. His very human drawings of the holiday season with funny little details that small eyes like to find made us believe in the magic of the season.
So instead of a recipe today, I’d like to leave you with the titles of a few cookbooks that I have enjoyed over the years. These books have given me the passion to pursue food making in all its joy, mystery and beauty. Maybe these will be gifts for someone you know. Or just go to your public library and check them out. (If your library does not carry them, they can get them for you through inter-library loan.)
Barefoot in Paris by Ina Garten -- Lovely simple and tasteful recipes based on French living.
You’ll love the Rich Chocolate Tart recipe.
Moosewood Restaurant Daily Specials -- A delightful and flavorful vegetarian cookbook
Laurel’s Kitchen Bread Book by Laurel Robertson and Carol Flinders-- A complete primer on breadbaking with whole wheat flour.
The Complete Book of Breads by Bernard Clayton -- The book that got me started on my baking adventure
Saveur Cooks Authentic French -- A beautifully illustrated cookbook that will make you pick up and go to France
While I’m on Christmas vacation, I know I will be spending time in the kitchen but also leafing through cookbooks for more ideas on enjoying good food. And a good, smart novel will keep me out of trouble for a couple days!
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