In the kitchen....

Here I am in my kitchen cooking like a wild woman.. When you cook you must first find the recipe, hunt and gather, get the timing right, and then get down to business.

Finding the recipe is critical.  I knew someone who would not have a clue what she was cooking nor read the recipe before starting and in the middle of the recipe it would say soak overnight and she would say oh that's not important and then it would taste like, I'm not going there.  So read the recipe.  I just baked a cake for a friend's 60th birthday,  In fact it's in the oven right this second.  I do not like whipping egg whites to a hard peak. It seemed in every recipe that was important so I kept hunting.  She wanted chocolate but could not have nuts.  I found a recipe in The Progressive Farmer Cookbook given to Aunt Jennie in 1960 from her dear friend Clarisse. She spoke to her on the phone every day at 2:00 after As The World Turns.  You could set your watch by Aunt Jennie.

Hunting and gathering because if you are missing a critical ingredient well you are up the creek without a paddle. First look in your own kitchen to see if that box of baking soda is really there and the vanilla has more than a quarter of a teaspoon.  I like 3x5 cards for my lists or backs of envelopes although they still get left but do you best to keep your list in your pocketbook. I can swear like a sailor to realize my list is on the counter in the kitchen, Hey these things happen. When that happens look at the box in the grocery store and find a recipe that will work.  Best pecan pie is on the back of light Karo Syrup and the best Mac and Cheese is on the back of pasta so if that happens it's okay just be flexible.

Timing is critical. If company is coming at 6:00 and it's 5:59 and the steaks are still frozen I don't believe they will accept an invitation unless they are homeless. Baking cake this morning was important because you cannot ice a hot cake and the birthday is tomorrow so I will ice and decorate in the morning. Plan your life around the timing although I know life can get in the way of the schedule. That's when you cut up two tomatoes and dump a drained can of small LeSuer peas into the bowl dump a couple of tablespoons of Hellman's and serve as if you have been slaving all day.  Have stand bys available.  I thought I would tell the adulter this recipe and say it was my ex's favorite salad. He hated it... Hee hee hee.  Still want to but could not ever speaking to that woman.

The preparation is the fun part.  I do remember the Cooking Staff at Southern Living would always mention they cleaned there kitchen after every meal prepared.  I remember trying to cook with Jennie and David at my feet, trying not to step in spilled apple juice ( they were born before sippy cups)  I remember David pouring his apple juice out of his cup as if he was discovering gravity. I wondered how the kitchen staff would handle two children three and four in the kitchen with them.  Tricky but then they grow up.  Rejoice in the time spent and the fact they grew up.  Cake is done and it smells divine.