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| My table decor this year includes dried flowers from the garden. |
The month began with an accident that led to completing a kitchen project I'd wanted to do last winter, but never did manage to find the time. I came home from work after being away and noticed our stove top, which is a cooktop placed into an old fashioned gas stove, wasn't working on one side. That meant two of four burners were out of commission.
Somehow, only a mere ten minutes or so later I accidentally dropped a small jar on the
other side of the cooktop. It shattered the front burner that had been functioning just a second earlier, leaving me with glass shards and a sole back burner to use.
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| A beautiful rose from a friend who just moved away... |
This stovetop set-up has always been a great idea in theory,
but in reality it's been an issue since the Christmas we moved in. I assume it was fitted with
nouveau technology induction when our caring fore-owners came up with the idea.
That first Christmas, if you recall, I cooked for 12 in one small pot. That was repetitious.
And it was loud!
Then I bought, and was gifted (thank you!), all new pots and pans that are magnetic.
Cooking worked at that point - clearly a plus - but it was still making its normal constant buzz, like standing beside a beehive. And the temperature was wicked. Not only do I hate burned food, but you could not simmer, nor brown, and overflow was inevitable, which leads me to where the overflowing liquid would then seep. Clean up wasn't pretty, and I was losing most of any conversation, if one dared to try, in our otherwise socializing-friendly kitchen, while standing at the stove. And on a dangerous note, it was possible to turn on burners without really touching the controls, meaning it was easy to do completely by accident! Yikes
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| Our new-old stove |
Well, it doesn't sound fancy, as it isn't, but I bought a new radiant heat cooktop, of which there was only one on the market that could fit our old stove set up. Jordan installed it, I caulked it, and together we sealed up the front as well. In the end, we have a lovely quiet atmosphere, smelling of caramelized onions and gently cooked garlic in butter, and a finished project that continues to emanate the olden days country style in which it charms... if only I had more time to cook. To cook like the French, as perhaps Julie, or Julia Child... At least I now can attempt with some likelihood of success. (Don't you love the decor in Julie's apartment? Or Julia's Parisian apartment??? And if you don't know what I'm talking about just watch Julie&Julia.)
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| Amazing Apple Cider - so good as it is, heated with spices, or mixed with some bubbly. |
It was an accidental opportunity to change what we liked least about our kitchen.
The only other complaint is a lack of lighting over one counter.
I'm sure that change won't come soon,
but perhaps I'll be inspired to do it in the next ten years... ha!
For now everything is pretty much perfect. Only I need a few non-metal strainers, and well, the list goes on! However once I have them my kefir creations will be streamlined and no longer seem so much of a chore. More on that subject soon, I hope!
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| Advent Kranz - every candle alight a wee bit early |
As for the rest of December, I hope to begin feeling Christmassy.
I've hardly started shopping (I vow to start in September next year.) and I dread it,
I've not made a single sweet treat, and there isn't even red or green ribbon left for sale,
let alone have I wrapped even one gift. I suppose we managed to get the tree up on Monday accompanied by some store-bought egg-nog, and our Christmas guests do have
clean bedding and towels. So if you feel you're not keeping up to the ticking of the advent,
we are in the same boat, and I just wish we all may get the chance to
enjoy the magic before it's all gone....
