It's been very cold these days which is quite unusual for this part of Greece. When the weather is chilly I love to potter around the kitchen, cook stews, hearty soups and bake various breads. It warms up my body as well as my soul. I love to cook and anything related to it grabs my attention whether it's cookbooks, cooking shows, cookware, appliances, oh and kitchens! I love them! The heart of a home is the kitchen, you must agree. That's where all the magic happens, really. You see, I have this thing for them, it's quite strange and weird- I like to take a peek into people's kitchens. If everything is too tidy and in order then I assume that not much goes on there. I just gush over hanging pots and skillets, steam coming from a teapot sitting on the stove, colorful spices and herbs, vine bottles waiting on the kitchen counter, mugs stained with coffee or tea, cake leftovers, shabby plate racks over the sink, colorful napkins and aprons.*sigh*Generic, lifeless and cold kitchens do nothing for me. I love to look at those that are a bit shabby, full of stories, fragrance and history. A kitchen that oozes warmth, friendship, love and coziness- that's what's beautiful to me. Sophie Dahl wrote this delightful book that I keep going back to time and time again. She writes in this wonderfully lyrical, fairytalish kinda way that's absolutely charming. Her recipes are delicious, very easy to pull off, and the way she talks about food is mouthwatering. Here's my favorite excerpt from her book "Miss Dahl's voluptuous delights":
'This kitchen is a gentle relaxed one, where a punishing, guilt-inducing attitude towards food will not be tolerated. In this kitchen we appreciate the restorative powers of chocolate. The kitchen would have a fireplace, and possibly a few dogs from Battersea Dogs' Home curled up next to it. There might be a small upright piano by the window, with an orchid that doesn't wither as soon as I look at it. On long summer days, the doors to this kitchen are thrown open, while a few lazy, non-stinging bees mosey by. Children stir. When it rains, there is room in this kitchen for reading and spoon finding its way into the cake mix. Serious cups of tea are drunk here; idle gossip occurs, balance and humour prevail. It's the kitchen of my grandparents', but with some Bowie thrown in. It is lingering breakfasts, it is friends with babies on their knees, it is goodbye on a Sunday with the promise of more. This kitchen is where life occurs; jumbled, messy and delicious.'Here are some kitchen photos that I find lovely:
(Amy in her kitchen, Rachel Khoo from The little Paris kitchen)
I love the ambiance in these two.Gotta go and pop the bread into the oven...ah, life is good. ♥
No comments:
Post a Comment