My brother Darren gifted me a book The Supper of the Lamb (Robert Farrar Capon, Random House) for Christmas. I just can't say enough about the writing style of the author or how enjoyable this book is to read. It's labeled "an unorthodox cookbook". There are recipes in the back and cooking methods scattered throughout, but what stands out is how he relates God, His desire to be creative, and other things to food.
The core of the book is ferial and festal cooking - not that he dwells on these ideas specifically throughout the book. Rather, the other ideas expressed in the book will simply end up in either, or both, categories. Note: it is not ferial vrs. festal. As many things in life are it is both-and not either-or.
I'll intentionally paraphrase this piece at the risk of near-plagiarism as a teaser for you (Random House, don't sue me - it's free advertising!!!):
God makes wine. Notice the tense: makes; not made. He didn't make it once upon a time to be burdened with the unavoidable and embarrassing result of that decision. Wine is because it is His very present pleasure to have it so. The creative act is intimate to each part, parcel and period of the world. The bloom of the yeast lies upon the grapeskins year after year because He likes it; [the chemical process that yields wine] is a dependable process because, every fall, He says, "That was good; do it again".
No you can't borrow mine. Find your own at your favorite book seller (<$15 on amazon).
In addition, Priscila and I watched Julie and Julia. In truth, Darren, Jenn, and I watched it in Denton which made Priscila a little mift. All I knew is Meryl Streep had done a fantastic job as Julia Child, but nothing else about the plot, etc. so it hadn't "made it on my radar". All Priscila knew is that it was a "chick flick" and I didn't see it with her. It's a great film for anyone. The director/writers did a great job of putting two, almost unrelated, stories together into a single presentation. Bravo. Every once-in-awhile Julia Child slips-up and and a little Meryl Streep comes through. If you need to read that last sentence again, do it now. It was intentional.
These two singular events have inspired me (The supper of the lamb to a much greater extent) to begin cooking again. I stopped/slowed because of time constraints, work, etc. Note to the men (if any bother reading this): if you've ever wondered about the mechanics of HOW to listen to God through your wife take note. So with the seed of inspiration in my heart, and post Julie and Julia, my wife says, "why don't you blog about cooking? What about that Silver Spoon cook book you got for Christmas a few years ago?" I'll blog later about the significance of God in this idea.
Ahhhh, yes.... Il Cucchiaio d'argento. The cook book, translated into English, that is the epitome of Italian cooking. Rumored to be a traditional wedding gift for young Italian couples; passed down from Mother to Daughter like the Americans do The Joy of Cooking. I'm not sure how much of that is true, but it's a fine cookbook in it's own right. It's so large, I view it as a reference, not a cookbook. My first attempts at the "mother sauces" were gleaned from here. While I certainly haven't memorized any of them, making your first Bechemel will conquer most of your cooking fears.
Now why did I forget where that book was placed? Oh yes, the great mouse hunt of '08 in the pantry moved it to a cupboard where it was "lost". Many thanks to Hunny and Brienne for tearing apart the pantry, braving the 3" monster, and saving as much food as they could.
So my break from work today is drawing to an end (or rather, I need to make it come to a close). There's disk storage analysis to do for customers and family finances to do... Groan. In the meantime the rib bones from this Christmas's Prime Rib are simmering into beef stock. The beginning of new adventures await.
P.S. It just started snowing! Andrew's first snow!!!
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