I thought of doing a New Year’s post. I really did. I got this cookbook for Christmas, essentially 932 pages of drool-worthy recipes. A 4.6 lb tome of culinary inspiration. I made a cake recipe from it, and it was excellent (Guinness chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting, if you’re curious), but lately I have been out of blogging mode, and it’s been weeks since my camera has made it inside the kitchen.
Nonetheless, the blogging bug bit last night, and it bit hard. The problem was, I had nothing to write about. Sure, I could have made something for dinner. But, you see, our refrigerator is currently stuffed to the gills with leftovers. And while leftovers are delicious, they kind of get in the way of culinary creativity, you know?
For this reason, a New Year’s post seemed hypocritical. While the world is celebrating a fresh start–if 1/1/11 doesn’t just scream “New Beginnings,” I don’t know what does–I find myself still staring at 2010 every time I open the refrigerator door. And truth be told, I kind of dig the metaphor it calls to mind. It’s not like we start from scratch every time January 1st rolls around, you know? Life is cumulative, and no resolution, no “fresh start” should ever fail to acknowledge that. Sure, we can hope to make this year better than the last, but we cannot hope to cast aside all that we bring into it, from 2010 and all the years prior, the good and the bad.
So, for the next week or so, I will be happily eating the leftovers of meals past. Because, while the gnocchi didn’t quite make it through to 2011 (mold), last week’s lamb is something I hope to eat again and again. Just like dad made it in 2010. No improvement required.
Lamb with rosemary (a Jamie Oliver recipe)
Sauteed yellow squash and onion
Roasted carrots, parsnips, and garlic
Looks tasty, and the new site look is awesome!
Yum yum yum!!! I loved reading this. Your blog looks amazing! I. Miss. You.