A friend pointed out when we met recently that there’s something about Russian women and their kitchens. They’re happiest in them.
I was like, “Wait, I’m like that!” Okay, I’m half Ukrainian, not Russian, but when it comes down to it, there’s nowhere else on earth I’d rather be than home on a Saturday, cooking up something for a bunch of friends for dinner.
I have a great kitchen, even though it’s not so fancy. There’s no sub-Zero or Viking range. I don’t have high-end faucets, and the lamp over the kitchen table is actually pretty ugly in a 1980s kind of way.
But it’s still a great kitchen. Big, for starters. I’ve got the kind of table that’s as perfect for arts and crafts as it is for casual suppers. The view is fantastic over the hills, and there’s loads of counter space.
In the year since we’ve lived here I’ve made:
homemade pizzas on Fridays
a Valentine’s supper for friends with fried oysters that I still dream about (must make those again)
a birthday supper for my son, for, oh, about twenty-five family members and a few more friends
An Indian supper for my dad’s birthday
Halloween dinner
salads for potlucks, pancakes for Shrove Tuesday, cookies with my kids, birthday muffins for a one daughter’s class, and Christmas dinner.
My husband and I have discussed finances at the table, watched our kids argue and make up, then argued and made up ourselves. We’ve stepped around each other in the mornings, and drunk wine in the evenings, laughed with friends, and gathered with family.
Can you tell the kitchen is my world? My fortieth birthday is coming up soon, and for a while I thought maybe I’d have some blow-out party, but you know, that’s just not me. Instead, I’m thinking of hanging lights in the back yard, draping some pretty tulle around, and hosting a long and relaxed, garden supper. Cooked by yours truly, of course, and probably including a few of those fried oysters. Bon Vivant, folks.
I love cooking, hanging out in my kitchen, gathering friends and family. Your 40th birthday celebration idea sounds perfect! Cooking for people I love, planning a fun new menu, opening the wine and offering a toast . . . it doesn’t get much better than that!
Sounds like a little piece of heaven on earth!
Enjoy.
That 40th birthday sounds lovely, and if only I lived close enough to fish for an invitation to dinner at your house!
I’ve often thought I might love cooking if I were any good at it. Like anything it takes practice, I guess, and like Katie said in her post this week, I don’t have room for that in my life right now! Maybe someday, though. People like you who get so much pleasure out of it inspire me to try.
For now I’ll stick to Rachel Ray’s 30-minute meals (which take me a minimum of 45 minutes every time.)
Eve, if you lived here of COURSE you’d have an invitation. I mean, someone’s got to dance on the table. Don’t get me wrong, I cook Rachel Ray food, too. I love lots of her recipes and they’re great for nights when I don’t have lots of time. And sometimes I just give up and do takeout. But for some reason, I feel liberated in my kitchen. It’s my escape from the pain of the page!
What a great party! We love to entertain at home, too–and I think one of the problems for me is that NYC kitchens are just too small. My husband and I can’t cook together because there isn’t enough room for both of us.
I love to entertain too and making an amazing meal always feels great. Happy 40!!
Duh. Can you tell I read the comments before coffee? Kris–you’d get an invitation, too! And hopefully, you’d also dance on the tables….
Hah, I figured as much, Tiffany. I can’t promise any dancing on tables but I wouldn’t put it past me to start belting out a showtune.
She’d sing … I’d dance on the table! What a riot we’d be. We REALLY MUST get together ladies!
Wow, sounds like my kind of party!! I love cooking, entertaining etc. My niece gave me a little plaque that I have above my stove which sums up me and my kitchen: “I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even add it to the recipe.”
Enjoy that big four-o!
One of my biggest thrills ever was ripping out the old kitchen in the house I bought and designing and installing a brand new one…oh it took a few years and some bad contractors…but it is all mine. What a thrill. And it came out great too. MY KITCHEN IS TRUELY MY KITCHEN.
Well, we may not have the cooking gene in common, but the backyard party gene runs strongly in me!