Why Not . . . Learn How to Cook?

“The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude.” ― Julia Child

One of my favorite pastimes is finding time to step into the kitchen and attempt a new recipe that I have discovered in a magazine, watched on Food Network or torn from my Sunday newspaper. However, just as much as I love to courageously trying something new, I also love the comfort of creating something without having to glance at a recipe because it is ingrained in my memory. Either way, cooking is something I love to do, and the more I learn, the more I love tinkering in the kitchen, smashing a clove of garlic or making a savoring meal of risotto while sipping a crisp glass of viognier or sauvignon blanc with records of jazz resonating throughout the house.

Perhaps it’s because I am single and only have to cook for one, perhaps it is because I grew up in a home where my mother put such love in her cooking every night of the week or perhaps it’s because I’ve come to realize that knowing how to cook and taking the time to enjoy meals at home is simply a healthy, therapeutic habit that is a integral part in living well.

I know many of my readers also love to cook, but in our modern world up until recently with the popularization of food networks and increase in farmers’ markets nationwide, convenience and processed food have taken command of the stage regarding eating habits and preferences. I can’t think of a better analogy to teach the lesson that easier isn’t always better. Based on the obesity epidemic and the fact that so much of what is available to ingest quickly isn’t even actual food, not only is it a good life decision to learn how to cook for one’s good health, it is actually something that can bring a tremendous amount of satisfaction and fulfillment into your life as well. 

Let me share with you what I’ve discovered by knowing how to cook and continuing to learn the tricks of the trade:

1. Helps me stick to my budget. When I first began living in northwest Portland more than nine years ago, I would have loved to dine at all of the splendid restaurants on 23rd Avenue, but on my teacher’s salary I was lucky to enjoy a sweet dessert at Papa Haydn’s once or twice a month with my close girlfriends. As an alternative, I tried to make the many dishes I would have loved to have enjoyed in my apartment. While buying grocery store brands of certain items to save money and allowing myself to purchase quality items that would be sure to make the dish extraordinary – fresh herbs, artisan breads, fresh seafood, cheese – whenever they would go on sale, I was able to not only enjoy quality meals, but stick to my budget as well.

2. Allows me to exercise my independence. I feel fortunate to have grown up with a mother who loves to look. While I only learned a small arsenal of the skills I now have growing up as a child, I was confident living in my first apartment that I could cook myself something even if it was just heating up a can of green beans or making lasagna. And as I grew older and continued to understand how to make sauces (thank you Julia Child!), the perfect steak, as well as many other techniques, I not only felt assured I could cook adequately, I also began to love cooking for others as well.

3. I know what I’m eating. From a health perspective, learning how to cook is crucial to controlling your eating habits. When you become the cook, you become the captain of your diet. No longer are you in the dark about how much sugar, butter or salt goes into your favorite snack, and more importantly, you begin to realize that flavor doesn’t have to mean fattening. Learning to use shallots, lemon zest, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar and fresh herbs and spices are all simple ways to add layers of flavor without unnecessary calories.

4. Helped to trim my waistline. On a similar note, when you can cook for yourself, you aren’t dependent on eating food wherever you can find it. In other words, you can plan healthy meals, take command of your kitchen and eat when it works best for you, not when you can get to the nearest restaurant and be held captive by their menu choices.
5. No deprivation, only moderation. Having had the opportunity to travel to France and observe the riches of their cuisine and witness first-hand that eating well doesn’t have to turn you into a walking roley-poley, and conversely having learned the hard way that restrictive diet do not work, I an attest that you can eat fat, butter and cheese and still stay slim. The key is to eat in moderation. Make the conscious decision to taste and savor your food rather than drowning yourself in your favorite sweet treat. Always aim for balance of vegetables, fruit and protein, and don’t feel bad about treating yourself to a slice of your favorite camembert.


6. Another worthwhile excuse to go book shopping. While having too  many books will never be my problem, as I can’t ever seem to have enough piled on my bedstand, another reason to purchase these gems is a wonderful thing. The top selling genre of books on average tend to be cookbooks, and it’s understandable as to why when you think about it. Visually the images are tantalizing, everyone needs to eat and you don’t have to read the entire book all once to put it to good use. At the end of the post you’ll find a list of cookbooks that sit on my counter and are regularly used.

7. Brings those I love together. When you can cook, you can have a dinner party. When you can took, you can invite friends over for a wine and appetizer gathering. When you can cook, you can entertain. One of the best gifts to give those you love is to bring them together for a wonderful time, and food is a natural magnet.


8. Feeds my insatiable curiosity. I continue to want to be a student of life. For example, when I first began learning about wine more than six years ago, I was thrilled and beyond curious to understand more about all of the different types of wine and regions, and the same is true for cooking. There is always a new recipe to try, a new ingredient to use, a new skill to learn or a new tool to give a whirl. The kitchen really is a classroom, and attempting to master it will always be intriguing to me.

9. An outlet for artistry. If you’ve ever watched Top Chef, the artistry that each talent puts into their presentation and meals exceeds impressive. Often the food looks so much like a piece of art, I’d almost be tempted not to taste it (but then my taste buds would become far too curious and win out). While you might not reach the echelons of Top Chef, there is a reason recipes can’t be copyrighted, because each cook brings to the ingredients their own ideas creating an original meal every time. See cooking as your art studio and begin honing your skills and expressing what most captures your taste buds depending upon the day, event or guests invited to join you.

10. I can communicate without saying a word. My aunt is a caterer. And whenever I have the opportunity to see her (which is not nearly enough), I always know my palette will be all a flutter tasting her talents in the kitchen. One of the instructions she gives her cooking staff that she shared with me some time ago was that if they were in a bad mood to stop cooking and go home (whether she meant this literally or figuratively, I’m not sure). More importantly, she genuinely believes that the negative energy brought to the process of cooking will dim the flavor of the food, and on the flipside, when you cook with love, it is amazing what one can create. Cooking is a wonderful way of expressing how you feel and sharing it with others. Think of the meals you create whether they are for yourself or to share with others as a greeting card. What do you want it to say?

“Cooking is at once child's play and adult joy. And cooking done with care is an act of love.” ― Craig Claiborne

Whether you are well versed in the kitchen and can easily discern between a jelly roll sheet and a cookie sheet, a sauce pan and a skillet, or are just thrilled to know how to boil water, take some time to hone your skills even further in the kitchen. Not only will your waistline and budget thank you, but your confidence will gradually begin to soar and who knows what kind of artist resides within you. Don’t be afraid to find out.

If you’re looking for a list of supplies and utensils that you may want to add to your kitchen, have a look at these two lists:

~A Cook’s Kitchen

~A Baker’s Kitchen

In need of a recipe to try (breakfast, lunch, sides, pastas, dinners, desserts)?  Have a look at my list of recipes tried and recommended by moi.

Cookbooks that I use regularly in my own kitchen:

~Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics

~Mastering the Art of French Cooking

~The French Women Don’t Get Fat Cookbook

~Weeknight Fresh & Fast

~Barefoot Contessa: Foolproof

~The Oregonian Cookbook

~New York Times Cookbook

Bon appétit!

SIMILAR POSTS FROM THE ARCHIVES YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY:

~Why Not . . . Lose Those Last 10 Pounds?

~Why Not . . . Get & Stay in Shape?

Images: (1) pinterest 

Why Not . . . Use Simple Changes to Transform Your Kitchen?

Part of creating a simply luxurious life is building a sanctuary that is welcoming, comforting and tranquil. One of the highlights of my day is pulling into the garage and walking into my home where I can let my hair down, come a little undone and breathe a huge sigh of relief that I can do as I please. And part of the reason I feel this way is because my sanctuary is clean, organized and suited to my needs and tastes.

My current focus when it comes to my home is re-decorating the kitchen. Every other year or so, I tend to want to see a change or become involved in a facelift in a particular part of my house so that it better reflects who I am and the life that I’m living. So the focus of my attention and a few hard earned dollars is the creative cooking space better known as the kitchen.

Now this particular facelift will not involve a contractor, instead only my creative ideas and elbow grease which will be much easier on my budget. And if everything I have on my list to do comes into fruition, the changes will be quite significant. So no matter what size your kitchen may be or how much you have to invest in a mini-make-over, I’d like to share with you today simple ways you too can turn your kitchen into a welcoming, simply inviting and comforting space.

During the past weekend, the local AAUW chapter in Walla Walla sponsored a kitchen tour of eight kitchens in the area that were uniquely impressive in their own way. With all proceeds going towards scholarships for young women pursuing a college education, I invited my mother and we both gladly donated our $20 to gain a few ideas on how to we might create a more welcoming, organized and streamlined kitchen.

So after a day that was full of brilliant fall blue skies and endless inspiration, I sat down to make a list of what I knew I wanted and what I was now inspired to incorporate into my simple kitchen make-over.

1. Purge
Go through each and every cupboard, shelf and drawer and place in a box to donate or sell anything that is unused (no matter how beautiful), or a duplicate of what you already have. By spending time purging what isn’t necessary, you create a space that less cluttered, enables you to find exactly what you are looking for and helps you decide what is truly needed.

My example may seem a bit extreme, but after spending a week in a flat in London this summer that did not have a microwave, I realized I honestly didn’t need one either. So, in order to clear my counter space and force myself to plan meals a bit better, I removed it from my kitchen. For the past two months, I have yet to miss it. It takes more planning ahead to warm leftovers up, but I love the reduction of clutter.

2. Keep the Counters Clear
Speaking of counters, keep them clear. Find a space or eliminate anything except absolutely beautiful and necessary items from the counter top. For example, keep – a gourmet espresso machine, a retro toaster, a wine rack, glass canisters for baking essentials, ceramic canister for cooking utensils and clear bottles of EVOO and/balsamic vinegar; and eliminate – plastic bottles of anything, food, etc.

3. Monochromatic Dishes
As a lover of white kitchens, I am a tremendous fan of all-white dishware in the kitchen cupboards – bowls, plates, mugs, etc. Why? It makes it simpler when setting a table (choose a colorful bouquet and accessories to change the look for the particular occasion), it looks nice and uniform on the shelves and I don’t become too terribly attached to it if an item breaks as I can purchase a new one white piece just about anywhere.

4. Choose Beautiful Containers
I can easily go through an 8 ounce bottle of extra virgin olive oil in a week, so I have chosen to keep a glass olive oil dispenser on the counter next to my stove. If you too use any item regularly (flour, oatmeal, sugar, etc), keep it on the countertop, but place it in a beautiful glass or ceramic canister that follows the color scheme.

5. Include a Touch of Originality
At one of the kitchens we visited, a family had the fortune to find and place in their kitchen a 19th century Belgian butcher’s block (image below). While it had to be taken apart, refinished and then reassembled once inside the home, it was a tremendously, impressive piece that brought character and a sense of history to a very clean and functional room.

Keep your eyes out for a special piece to bring into your kitchen (large or small), but be sure not to bring too many, as you want such pieces to be the focal point.




6. Line your Shelves
A simple change that won’t cost much and is a simple task is to reline your kitchen shelves. Especially if you have open shelving for your dinner and serving ware, choosing the right shelf liner can pull a space together.


7. Display your Cookbooks
While going through each kitchen, I found myself lingering near their cookbook shelves, perusing their titles. From Julia Child, Barefoot Contessa, The New York Times and more, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing what type of meals they preferred to enjoy. And then I thought, why not display your cookbooks? Choose an extra open shelf you don’t know what to do with or as one of our hosts creatively did, bring in extra standing shelves (she had this particular shelf from Pottery Barn in black), and place your cookbooks, a radio or television and a plant or two on it in a corner in your kitchen where you would like some height.

With the books being visible, you are regularly reminded of ideas you may have discovered in any one of them or find yourself more apt to pull one off the shelf and try a new recipe one evening when you have extra time.


8. Welcome Beautiful Sound
Whenever I’m cooking I love to have either music (classic or smooth jazz, French cafe music or old crooners) or the news radio station playing. To help create a more welcoming space, place your iPod docking station, a Bose radio, your iPad or a simple radio on top of the fridge on an open shelf or somewhere that will amplify the sound well, and lose track of time as you cook or bake to your heart’s content.


9. Window Treatments
Placing simple white Roman shades, wooden blinds or curtains around your windows in the kitchen changes the space immediately creating warmth and providing a more comforting, less sterile space. A great place to custom design your own window treatments (size, inside or outside mount, etc) for reasonable prices, but at the same time ensuring a quality product is Blinds.com.

10. A Wall Clock or Framed Art
Depending on the style you have chosen to work with for your kitchen, consider unique wall decoration or a beautiful over-sized wall clock. Frame your favorite print (remember larger and less items to great a more regal, streamlined environment), or during your travels, find a unique painting at a flea market, bring it home and frame it. Each time you look at it, you’ll have a moment of beautiful nostalgia.

11. Organize a Comfort Shelf
Last, but certainly not least, create a comfort shelf somewhere in your kitchen. Feeling inspired, this past weekend I reorganized and purged all of my cupboards, choosing an easy-to-reach shelf to place only my favorite teas – Mariage Frères, Beecrowbee, Tazo Zen and Mason & Foster. My comfort shelf is dedicated to soothing and calming me down after whatever each day may bring. So, I’m curious . . . what would you place on your comfort shelf? Chocolates, almonds, your favorite bottle of wine? Have some fun designing your own cherished space within an already wonderful kitchen.

More than anything, I hope you finishing reading today’s post and realize that simple changes such as these can make a very significant difference. When you walk into a room you love and enjoy being it because it speaks to who you are and is welcoming to those you love, you begin to enjoy the time you spend in your home even more. And having a sanctuary such as this is key to establishing balance and rejuvenating your body and mind after being out in the world each and every day, no matter how much we enjoy all the opportunities such a life affords us.

Images: (1) pinterest (2) pinterest (3) pinterest (4) pinterest (5) pinterest (6) pinterest (7) pinterest

A Functional & Stunning Kitchen

Two stoves in a kitchen and one of which is exclusively for making paella. Now that is a personalized kitchen. Design guru for Williams-Sonoma, Celia Tejada, wanted to create her dream kitchen which she considers a living room of sorts due to all the time she spends in it. So with the help of her architect, her brother, they created for her home in San Francisco a kitchen that is a true heart of her home.  Read the article here.

All images courtesy of Elle Decor

A Dream Of A Kitchen

I’m always anxious to see how interior designers and fashion designers live. To me it would seem that their home would have to be a place that provides them with inspiration.  The opportunity to take a look into interior designer Christopher Peacock’s kitchen in Traditional Home  this month and what a beautifully inspiring space. With the contrast between the white cabinetry and dark hardwood floors, the kitchen, nook and family room exude a warmth oddly enough, as well as a very clean aesthetic. Have a look and do share what you think.  If you’d like to read more, click here.

All images courtesy of Traditional Home

Let Me Cook Here

A French inspired kitchen, awash in white with an abundance of natural light was created by designer Lisa Cohen and is located in Alpine, New Jersey.  The owners, inspired by blue and white porcelain and French pastries, now have a kitchen that immediately transports you to another place and time.

Just imagine waking up and wandering into the kitchen to grab yourself a cup of tea.  As you wait for the water to boil, you become distracted by the gentle awakening of the day you can’t help but see above the hammered-copper sink and nickel faucet due to the wall of windows.  Yes, I most certainly would feel quickly at home in this kitchen found in House Beautiful’s September issue.  If you’d like to read more about this particular kitchen, click here and enjoy the tour below.