I made this apron for a swap last year, and since the light was terrible for taking a picture of the apron I actually use, I dug into my archives. The one pictured is made from a vintage pillowcase to which I added a nice long tie so it could be sassily knotted however the recipient wanted.
When I was a girl, I often helped my mom or my oldest sister bake. I could fix soup from a can, cereal, and scrambled eggs. I think that encompasses the level of culinary skill I had until I married and moved out of my parents' home at 21. Things didn't improve much, especially as my ex-husband is practically a genius in the kitchen. Still, I added a few more recipes to my repertoire. Always, though, I loved to bake: cakes, bread, cookies…all of it.
I lost ten pounds the first week F. and I were separated. Most of that was the shock of being asked for a divorce leading to a total loss of appetite. Part of that, though, was I didn't really know what to fix for myself, on my own. Over time, and through the kindness of girlfriends, I gathered some new recipes and learned to like being in the kitchen. There is a real pleasure in cooking for one's self, and one's self alone.
I cook for two now. It's a challenge sometimes as I'm an ovo-lacto vegetarian and Neal loves meat of all kind. He's gotten used to eating vegetarian most nights, and once or twice a week when he wants a steak or salmon or whatever, we fix our meals independently. I confess, the smell of a chicken that has been dressed with gobs of lemon, salt, and pepper makes me consider eating poultry, but I resist. I don't want it, really.
I declared 2009 the year of the kitchen for me. The big renovation project ate up a lot of the time I would have liked to have had for canning and cooking, so I've extended the year of the kitchen to 2010. I received two Julia Child cookbooks for Christmas, which should help me along on my journey to develop my culinary skills. One of the books is Baking with Julia, and I've been drooling over pictures and recipes a lot.
No matter how much I learn to love cooking, it is the baking that ties me to my childhood and my young adulthood. It is baking that makes me quiet, brings me peace.
How about you? What hausfrau activity links you to your past and gives you joy?
Thanks for playing the comment game. I'm thinking the glamorous prize might be woven. Does that appeal?
