Getting Started......Which One

I think its because Gram is so important to me that I'm having such a hard time deciding which recipe to make 1st. But, I will have one made before dinner. There is so much I want to say & so much I want to share, but like picking the recipe I'm not sure where to begin. And as I've heard, you should begin at the beginning. While looking through Gram's cookbook, I have no idea how many recipes there are. So, I will not be trying to cook EVERYTHING in the cookbook in a year. But, I will have made (or at least attempted to make) all the hand written recipes. They aren't just her recipes, but recipes from her family & friends. And as is the right thing to do, she gave credit to the creators of the recipes. I will as well.

The kitchen is closed, but still cooking.

Welcome to my kitchen. Today, I'm not going in there unless its to heat up leftovers in the microwaveable. My company is in full force & so I need to focus my attention there for today. Filing taxes for a business is kinda crazy. Warehouse order came in & now I need to package my customers' orders & deliver them.

My magnificiant daughter & I are going to spend the evening on a date. We are headed to Let's Dish (www.letsdish.com). I love this place. Her & I will be assembling 16 raw meals. When we are done, they are headed for the freezer. Its so helpful on those nights when you aren't feeling creative at all, but don't want the family to eat pizza for the 5th time in a week. Then, I'm surprising her with cheese & dessert fondue at the Melting Pot (www.meltingpot.com). Another wonderful place. Went with friends a few nights ago for the full meal, cheese fondue, salads, main courses, & dessert. I love the experience of everyone cooking together & sharing ideas & converstaion. The drinks were wonderful too. I always leave stuffed. Wolf explained there is a saying in Germany, "It is better to get an upset stomach, then to return food back to the chef" or something like that. I'm so glad I have an excuse to full enduldge now....it would be rude other wise.

Gram's cookbook is sitting on the desk next to me. I keep glancing over at it. Its as if she's yelling to me..."Get off that computer. You have to try this. Its so yummy." Gram is not one to be ignored, but she's also very understanding. That's the thing w/ Gram, she loves us all no matter what. I know she'll be waiting here, when I'm ready to open my kitchen again. Tomorrow is another day.

As a side note, Gram passed away almost 5 years ago. But, I feel her with me everyday. Looking over my left shoulder & placing her reassuring hand there when I need support. Even though she is passed, she is not gone & therefore, I refer to her in the present tense.

Why, Oh Why

I tend to jump on an idea that suits me without thinking it through completely. Some call it spontaneity, I call it living. If I were to sit down & weigh all the positives & negatives. I'd never "try" to do anything EVER. I would talk myself out of the latest & greatest idea that has popped into my head. The hubby & I watched "Julie & Julia" a week ago. I liked the movie, but didn't fall head over hills in love with it. I found some similarities between the two of us. What struck me was Julie sticking to something for a year & not giving up until she had completed her goal. And I've always thought that if you are going to own a cookbook, you should actually use the recipes inside. Not just look at the food porn (photographs of food). But, I've never taken the time to explore all the wonders that await me inside the pages of a particular cookbook. I seem to end up making the same things just putting a twist on them. Now is the time for that to change. I decided to take the challenge that Julie set out for herself, but with my own personal touch. I will be blogging for the next year about my adventures in the kitchen. But, unlike Julie, I am not madly in love with Ms. Julia Child. I am however madly missing my Great Grandmother. She gave me one of her personal cookbooks before she passed away. It is one of my most treasured pieces. And every so often I take it off the shelf & look at it. But, I've never cooked anything from it. So, I've decided that I will spend the next year making EVERY recipe inside the cookbook. Over the next year, I hope you will join my gram & me in the kitchen creating master pieces full of love. Gram, I can't wait to spend some time with you. Its been way to long.