What's Going On In The Kitchen?

   Last night I had dinner with three women.  Four women.  All in our forties.  Intelligent. Independent. Interesting.  During dinner, which was tacos that my friend prepared, we began talking about cooking... how much we cook and what we do cook.  Let me tell you, there was a great deal of variation ranging from not at all to cooking meals all of the time.  This got me thinking about why we do what we do in the kitchen. 
   Now, we are less than a week away from Thanksgiving - a holiday celebrated in the United States during which many of us (if we are so lucky) gather with family or friends and eat ourselves silly.  
   I am particularly lucky because my stepmother prepares the Thanksgiving meal. She is a phenomenal cook.  She approaches cooking in a scientific and structured way.   She is super organized and meticulous.  She perfects dishes that I would not dream of taking on.  And while I greatly admire these traits, this approach actually make me quite nervous. 
   I suppose our behavior in the kitchen must in some way mimic our personalities.  I mean, if you are organized in every other facet of your life why wouldn't you be organized in the kitchen.  And if you are a disaster in your life then clearly you should be a disaster in kitchen.  Makes sense right?  Perhaps.  I can tell you that I fall somewhere in between. And I am okay with that.
   But this does not answer the question of why some of us cook and some of us do not?  What compels us to do what we do?  I know for me, cooking and baking is something I observed and sometimes participated in as a child.  My family used food from our garden, which was crazy big.  My mother went through a stage where she canned everything, made jam, made pickles and yogurt (yuck).  My parents had a subscription to Mother Earth News, shopped at the coop,  wore overalls and pretty much were half-ass hippies for a while.  When my stepmother came into the picture, we became foodies. 
   I believe my interests in the kitchen fall somewhere in between.  I love to cook for other people and myself.  I love to create.  I try to use local fare whenever I can.  I am not interested in making all of the most complicated dishes. I am a good cook.  I am a great pie maker.
   So on this Sunday, less than a week before Thanksgiving,  I ask you, my lovely blog reader, what do you do in your kitchen?   What do you like to cook or bake?  And why do you do it that way?   

Peanut Butter & Jelly: It's not just for sandwiches anymore!

Peanut Butter & Jelly Pie

 

 

 

   I believe I have created the perfect pie.  This pie represents everything that is good about pie.  This pie is decedent, yet simple.  It is serious, yet full of whimsy.  It combines protein, carbohydrates, dairy and fruit. It is truly a pie for all ages.  It is the Peanut Butter & Jelly Pie.
   I'm sorry for those of you out there who do not like peanut butter.  Or maybe you don't like berries.  Then, I am sad to say this may not be the pie for you.  Let me also say that if you are on a strict diet which does not allow dairy don't go here.  And if you have high cholesterol, you might want to prepare your doctor in advance.  That being said, this pie is perfect. 
   It happened upon me like this:  As you know, I spend a great deal of time daydreaming about pie. I know, that probably sounds crazy but it is in fact true.  A few years ago, I found I had a gift.  I could make a damn good pie.  And for a while, I followed recipes exclusively.  I worked at perfecting my pie crust.  I was happy to only go where others' had gone before.  But then something happened.  I began to have visions of pie tastiness, both savory and sweet.  I began to change things, to combine ingredients in different ways.  In fairness to those who came before me, I have stolen aspects from many different recipes, both pie and non pie, and have spun them into some pie loveliness of my very own. 
   I should also say here, that I have a host of pie tasters willing to take on for the team.  They are also willing to critique the end results.  These people in my circle know what they are talking about when it comes to food.  They know food is not something to be taking lightly.  They know good food.  And many of the pie filling ideas come wholly or in part from these awesome peeps! 
   The Peanut Butter and Jelly Pie was my creation however (at least in this version).  It's funny but generally you can find a recipe for anything you happen to dream up on the Internet.  And I did, in fact, find several recipes for PB&J pie.  But I was not happy with the the combinations that I found. So I made one up cause that's how I roll.
   I am a good pie maker.  I am also very critical about the end result.  There is always something I can do better.  There is always something that can be done differently.  So when a pie creation comes out as near to perfection as can be. This pie maker does a little happy dance in her kitchen.  And then she goes on to blab about it to all that will listen.  And even some that won't. So thanks again for all of you that read my blog posts, visit my facebook page, taste test, or talk about pie with me.  As Martha would say, "It's a good thing."

A little piece will do