Honey brought home "Julie and Julia" the other night. I just love that movie. Yes some parts of the Julie character are a bit over the top; but Julia, now that was a wonderful classy lady. I was always a fan, simply could not help loving such a steadfast, grounded and real human being.
Who had not spilled (safely and cleanly of course) a little something in the kitchen and gone on to serve it? Fried potatoes have tumbled out of the pan on the way to the serving bowl, hitting the stove top. They were served. A pancake was turned over, with a little bit not really coming up off the griddle and forming a "fold over", so it had to stay on the griddle a bit longer, getting a bit browner. It was served. Sugar being poured into a measuring cup over flows on to the counter. It was scoped up and added to the recipe. The sugar is going to be served.
There is a little Julia in all cooks.
I loved her kitchen style. Always have; and no matter where I live, I have the same seemingly Julia inspired kitchen. Through the years the colors and addresses have changed, but not the kitchen. I have continued to create and recreate the same kitchen. So I present to you this Monday, my kitchen. I have lots of stuff, out handy, and don't want to get rid of anything (I know I will need it.....someday) and the one place I will always find something to buy is in a kitchen wares store.
On the north wall is the stove and refrigerator, they are as close as cousins.
On a small chrome rack I keep the whisks, spoons and heat resistant scrappers. In the middle shelf is the colanders, and the bottom shelf holds the open and in service cereal, bread and snacks.
In the northwest corner is all the goodies needed to flavor food. Herbs and spices, vinegars and cooking wine. Yes that is the only open counter space that we have, just to the right of the sink.
Ahhh, that yellow 70's decor in the cupboard. The previous cook, put contact paper everywhere!
On the west wall is the sink, and the dish cupboard. Below is the under sink cabinet that holds the usual cleaning supplies. All of our everyday dishes are in this cabinet. You really do have to be organized to have such a small space, and keep so much in it!
The south wall is actually the dining room wall. That is where the dish hutch sits, and holds all my treasures!
The east wall is my kitchen supplies hutch. This is the most "Julia" of all; stuff is in and on every square inch and hanging off the sides.
The two hutches made this small space a working kitchen. And you know; a working kitchen makes any house, a home.
We seem to create space where none existed before. This is the end of the structure wall that separates the living room and kitchen. Sitting flush with the edge of the structure wall, flat up against the kitchen supplies hutch is a piece of the entertainment center that was too big for the TV room. It is very pretty and can be seen while sitting at the dining room table. Yes it too holds kitchen "stuff" ( actually there is kitchen stuff all over the house). If there is an open shelf anywhere, it probably holds something that would be in the kitchen, in a bigger house. And to the right is the end of the china hutch that sits in the living room and holds the good dishes.
We also have the finest of art work in our kitchen! Is there a richer life?
As always thanks so much for taking a moment to stop and say hello. The holiday count down is on, I hope all your time is filled with love and family.
M
