“Never trust a skinny cook.”
Cooking is one way to feel right with the world – for me, it is the one job I delegate when I have the first chance. It’s not that I don’t enjoy the process and I certainly love the rewards it is simply a time and management issue. Both poor excuses on my part. This week, with my slower pace, I have found a renewed interest in cooking and have started digging out my recipe books. It is easier to search online and find whatever our heart’s desire but the fun in turning the printed pages is truly the gain. Images, anecdotes and a hungry imagination make for good reading.
When I cook I like simple fresh food that doesn’t take hours and hours of prep. Baking has never been my thing as my taste buds always turn towards the savoury. If you are a natural chef, then none of what I will say makes sense but if you are an accidental cook like me, you will understand. Easy application and glamorous presentation have always been my way to succeed. Cooking for many never fazes me as long as I’m creating what is familiar, there is plenty of time to be organised and I have a beautiful table setting and plate ware to go.
City life is full of local restaurants and quick and easy delivery services – I love this freedom to click on an app or walk down the hill for delicious dinners – but right now it is my time to get back into the kitchen. I’m experimenting with vegetarian, vegan and barbeque options as we eat for optimum health. We are enjoying long, lazy lunches and trying to eat less in the evenings – it makes sense and hopefully enables better sleep.
On an aside, how are you sleeping?
My sleep is disturbed. The events right now are causing major emotional trauma and while we do everything we can during our waking hours to stay calm, focused and relaxed, it is beyond our control once we close our eyes. I’m working on it but it’s not an easy one.
Cookbooks? What’s your tried, true and tested?
I love all the editions from Tessa Kiros and Mimi Thorrison. Dishoom is the first-ever cookbook from one of London’s favourite restaurants; this is a great inspiration. Jane Webster’s Chateau Life celebrates French cooking in an easily replicable way. Julia Child’s recipes are still top of my list. Remember the Silver Palette cookbooks and The River Cafe? Feel Italian, The Silver Spoon and Elizabeth David’s Italian Food.
I’d love to hear your top 3? I’m ready for a new collection. xv
Keep Calm: Keep Cooking
provence to pondicherry || venezia || falling cloudberries || a kitchen in france || dishoom || chateau life
mastering the art of french cooking || the silver palette cookbook || the river cafe cookbook || the silver spoon
this feature contains affiliate links
