RecipeMuncher

The smell of a roasting chicken says “home” to me. The aroma is cozy and comforting and evocative of childhood…Sunday afternoons…cool Autumn days…dark, early evenings…cribbage games in the living room, and – a real treat – glasses of ginger ale…

A few of them, actually.  Just because I'm curious.  I started wondering about things the other day, and thought it would be fun to put these wonderings out there for anyone to respond to.

Here are my questions.  Answer any or all of them, whatever you choose.  Oh, and you can either answer them here in the comments section or over on the Barefoot Kitchen Witch page on Facebook.  Your choice. 

Here are my questions, in bold.  I've answered them myself, just to kick things off.

What are your earliest food/kitchen memories? 

The kitchen sink and main countertop area stuck out into the middle of the kitchen, sort of dividing the cooking area from the eating area.  I used to stand on a chair on the eating side of that divide and my mother would be on the other side, washing things or cooking or whatever, and I'd watch and we'd talk. 

I remember rows of fruits and vegetables that my mother canned…she'd store them in our "upstairs kitchen" which we never used as a kitchen, but eventually turned partly into a laundry room.  One wall had ceiling-high cupboards with glass doors - just beautiful - and this is where all the jewel-toned jars of peaches and tomatoes and everything else were. 

My mother also blanched and froze a lot of things later on - I think maybe it was easier or quicker than canning…not sure.  But I remember her buying bushels of corn or green beans or peas from a local farm and putting us kids to work shucking the corn or snapping the stems off the beans or shelling the peas. 

It's funny - back then I grumbled about "all that work" we were forced to do, and now - I am following the same path, or making the attempt.

Did you help out in the kitchen when you were little?  Or in the garden?

I guess I've sort of answered some of this in the question above.  I do remember that one of the early ways I could help to get dinner ready was to peel onions.  The onions and potatoes were in a big, open crock pot in the corner of the kitchen - or sometimes in a wire basket - and my job was to peel the dry papery skin off of the onions.

I vaguely remember a time when we shared a huge garden with another family, and I (and probably my sister, too) were "allowed" to plant the radishes.  I didn't like radishes back then, but I figure those were ours because they come up pretty quickly, so there's a sort of slowed down instant gratification element. 

Do your kids (if you have them) help out in the kitchen now?  How old/young are they and what do they do?

Well, if you've been reading here for any great length of time, you already know my kids help out, both in the kitchen and in the gardens.  Alex seems to prefer the gardens, and Julia prefers the kitchen - especially the baking - and more especially, cracking eggs.  It's her thing.  Each of them started helping out with cookies or other baked goods when they were about 2.  I freely admit that sometimes (not so much now, but when they were younger) it has been harder to get things done with them "helping," but in the end it's all worth it. 

~~~

Anyway, there are the questions and my own answers…I'd love it if you'd chime in!

Would any one be interested in a Beginners’ Fondant cupcake class on a Saturday in the middle of May, RM70 per person?

Tools will be provided, but of course, bring nothing but an apron! We’ll be learning fondant flowers & other fun fondant things, some of which you’ve seen on my blog

Comment, or email! shebakes.shebakes@gmail.com with the subject: Fondant Bondant!

OK i was kidding. Subject can be anything ;o) Please comment here and email. Thank youu! Am looking at beginning one.

To the person who sent me an email a few minutes ago asking if it's okay to flour the chicken the day before….yes.  I usually flour my chicken a few hours before so the coating will adhere better when it's fried.  I don't see why doing it the day before would make a huge difference.

  Just make sure you put it in a container and in the fridge overnight, obviously.

Sorry for blogging the answer. I accidentally deleted your email into cyber oblivion before I could answer.

a cobbler question by Luscious

Tags: Cobbler, question