the Kitchen God has returned
Ever since the beginning of my time in Switzerland, my relationship with the kitchen has become neglectful. Consequently, I have been neglecting myself, in terms of one of my precious remaining expressive/meditative outlets and of my self-gratification and nourishment.
The groove would go something like this: I would buy some things at the supermarket that seemed like good ideas at the time, then let them sit in the fridge for a week or so because (a) I forgot they were there, (b) they deserved waiting for a Cooking Inspiration, and/or (c) no time or energy to cook. In any event, I would realize at the last minute (or almost at the last minute) that the once-appealing produce was rotting, and would slap something together so as to make use of the thing. Gone seemed the days when I would be genuinely inspired, or would start with a recipe and shop toward that mission. Gone seemed the days when I would give myself time to make something rich and deeply satisfying. Some sort of half-assed curry or a sautéed-spinach-and-feta-over-pasta seemed the most of which I was capable.
So when my parents brought me a lot of extremely tasty little bell peppers from their garden a couple weeks ago, I was none to hopeful. But Mom saved me. She mentioned offhand that Mollie Katzen has a wonderful egg casserole recipe in The Moosewood Cookbook, and that I could use up the peppers that way.
And today was free. And I have someone to love and in whom I rejoice. When better to get back in touch with my cooking self?
This morning, I bought yogurt and cheddar with the recipe in mind.
This afternoon, I cooked. I sautéed and whipped and chopped for 45 minutes, and I baked for 45 minutes.
I sat in the cool of the balcony as it was baking. As if to express its relief at being attended so lovingly for a change, the oven sent out to me warm smells of rich promise.
I was not disappointed. The Spanish egg-pepper casserole was warm, and rich, and the most satisfying food I have cooked in a very long time (at least since I made revithia yakhni the first time). I was on Cloud 9.
I can feel it. The kitchen god is back, and He is smiling. I am smiling.
heeeeeeeeeeeeeeee love + food heeeeeeeeeeeee
The groove would go something like this: I would buy some things at the supermarket that seemed like good ideas at the time, then let them sit in the fridge for a week or so because (a) I forgot they were there, (b) they deserved waiting for a Cooking Inspiration, and/or (c) no time or energy to cook. In any event, I would realize at the last minute (or almost at the last minute) that the once-appealing produce was rotting, and would slap something together so as to make use of the thing. Gone seemed the days when I would be genuinely inspired, or would start with a recipe and shop toward that mission. Gone seemed the days when I would give myself time to make something rich and deeply satisfying. Some sort of half-assed curry or a sautéed-spinach-and-feta-over-pasta seemed the most of which I was capable.
So when my parents brought me a lot of extremely tasty little bell peppers from their garden a couple weeks ago, I was none to hopeful. But Mom saved me. She mentioned offhand that Mollie Katzen has a wonderful egg casserole recipe in The Moosewood Cookbook, and that I could use up the peppers that way.
And today was free. And I have someone to love and in whom I rejoice. When better to get back in touch with my cooking self?
This morning, I bought yogurt and cheddar with the recipe in mind.
This afternoon, I cooked. I sautéed and whipped and chopped for 45 minutes, and I baked for 45 minutes.
I sat in the cool of the balcony as it was baking. As if to express its relief at being attended so lovingly for a change, the oven sent out to me warm smells of rich promise.
I was not disappointed. The Spanish egg-pepper casserole was warm, and rich, and the most satisfying food I have cooked in a very long time (at least since I made revithia yakhni the first time). I was on Cloud 9.
I can feel it. The kitchen god is back, and He is smiling. I am smiling.
heeeeeeeeeeeeeeee love + food heeeeeeeeeeeee