Paprika: the recipe app that keeps on giving
Between our smartphones and tablets and the digitization of content, we have become used to having information always at our fingertips. The Kindle meant we could take our entire library of books on the airplane. For those of us whose libraries consist of cookbooks, a myriad of recipe and cooking apps let us figure out what’s for dinner, take our grocery lists on the road, and cook from our own kitchen or from an Airbnb across the country.
And the people sat around the table
As empty nesters, one of our greatest joys is the comfort of knowing that our two grown children enjoy each other’s company and that they actually like to come home. My husband and I have been known to think shamelessly, “Hmm, we must have done something right.” At that root of something right, we decided is routine, tradition, stability; the biggest symbol perhaps being the kitchen table.
Granola: It’s all about the mix
Homemade granola is one of the easiest things to make and a great pantry staple. In under an hour you can mix and match your ingredients into a custom batch of goodness. Just follow some general guidelines.
For the love of food
Food plays an interesting role in our lives. The food we share is central to celebrations and holidays. Family vacations are planned around food. Food triggers vivid memories and is often the star of family get-togethers and social events.
Chocolate chip cookie journey
There’s something nostalgic about baking. It’s often associated with childhood memories, traditions and comfort. One of my earliest memories in the kitchen is my sister and I using the little baking pans and cake mixes from the Easy-Bake Oven company to proudly bake “mini” cakes for our three younger siblings’ first birthdays. This turned out to be the first step in my baking journey.
Five earth-friendly (and joy-sparking) kitchen actions
Today marks the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. What better place to start making a difference than in our kitchens. Yes, there are some big (perhaps overwhelming) changes you can make to reduce your carbon footprint or save the world’s coral reef. Eat less red meat and dairy products. Buy local and in season. Stop using plastic bags and plastic straws that end up in our oceans. Use energy-efficient appliances. Reduce food waste.
While we should strive to do all these things, there are also a number of actions that offer an easier place to start and have the added benefit of sparking joy Marie Kondo style.
Purge baby purge
It wasn’t too long ago that I purged my kitchen – once as I packed prior to our move meant to be a “down-sizing” and again as I unpacked and organized my new kitchen. My husband has been preaching his “purge” directive to me ever since. He is so very helpful in that way. In the same spirit (and because she is like her dad), I bought my daughter the “Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo. I love the principle of only keeping what “sparks joy”. But—what happens when too many items “spark joy”?
Addicted to berry picking
Summer has always been my favorite season, but since moving back to the Northwest, I appreciate it even more. When the sun comes out, it’s a local mandate to drop everything and go outside! There’s nothing more glorious than a beautiful sunny day and fresh air in the Pacific Northwest. Driving with the windows down. Losing track of time while you soak up the long days of summer. And berry picking. Real berries. First come the strawberries. I’m not talking about those big California berries. Sure, those are available year round and beautiful on the outside ... but oh, it’s the inside that counts! Take a bite of an Oregon or Washington strawberry with its juicy, sweet redness throughout. It’s pretty much up there on the list of life’s simple pleasures.