She Sheds

"She Sheds,"  a woman's answer to The Man Cave. I have a she cave just off our master bedroom.  We have been back and forth on what to call this new room--well new about 2000.  Now we know.  These lady retreats once were called Morning Rooms; a place where a lady would retreat after breakfast to write her letters and take care of paper work.  A place to read and reflect away from the hoopla of the family. My cave would be a great nursery or a massive California closet fit for the real housewives of Orange County. (That's for the next owners of this house to decide...when they pry it out of my cold dead hands.)  For now and for as long as I live, this will be my room.  It has a small washer and dryer, a small refrigerator, a counter for a coffee maker and toaster oven and a chaise lounge for when I have the vapors, an easy chair for watching TV or reading, several pieces of favorite antique tables and stands and a computer.  Mine is not rustic as the pictures below, it fits well tucked in its space in this home.

These are adorable, don't you think?
 

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Back in the reading mode~

I have a strange reading cycle.  I read like a son-of-a gun for six weeks and then I am finished for a long period of time.  Well, the reading time is back.  I have rediscovered Greg Iles.  I had read his Turning Angel  years ago and enjoyed it.  I then gave it to my brother-in-law, Joe, who still remembers it.  Then we both kind of forgot about old Greg. Recently I started Natchez Burning and it kept my attention, but really the reading mood had not hit me so I kept putting off continuing.  Now, after meeting all of the characters in the Quiet Game from early 2000, I am picking up Natchez Burning again.  Mr. Iles grabs the reading and holds on for dear life. The last few pages are so intense in The Quiet Game, that as soon as I finished the book, I sat down to write about the rediscovery.  Then I will go to Amazon and secure some more of his books. Note: In doing so, I bought Greg Iles' The Devil's Punch bowl.  I've started it and it is really good.)  Before starting this book, however, I went back to Natchez Burning and I am still having trouble with that one.

Recipe wise, I am still in Narnia, exploring, but not finding anything that spurs me to write. Maybe I have a cooking cycle too?  That's a thought.  Since cooking for a ( non family) wedding and July 4th, my kitchen has lost its appeal.  I hang out in there, but I am not thrilled about it. I will continue to look for inspiration and if you have something to bring me around, email me.  I'd like to eat something other than Andy's garden tomatoes on toast with mayo, salt and pepper--hmmm, that sounds good...I'm off.

Okay, it's starting; people are beginning to avoid me because I am making this garden variety of ratatouille mixing in shrimp or other seafood to make it look different from what it is every day.  Andy just peeked in the door announcing the tomatoes are 'coming on.'  Terror filled my heart because I just used up the produce on the outdoor table yesterday and thankfully Beth's book club was here last evening to eat the French dish made famous by the movie. Someone wanted the recipe and Beth and I had a good laugh over that. It's a busy day here today, so maybe I can give the produce away to the variety of workers coming to put this place in order. Shhh.  don't warn them or they will run.  Guess what they will be eating for lunch?

Ratatouille

I have been cooking and serving ratatouille for years and didn't know it.  I saw the movie, but they were having it in great pots on the stove and I assume producing stew.  The dish is simply over sauteed vegetables such as egg plant, zucchini, green peppers, onions and garlic all cooked in olive oil and eaten hot or cold. Until this year, I, myself did not care for it.  Beth loves it and I am happy to turn Andy's  produce from the garden into ratatouille for her every day to be served with chicken or salmon; it turns out to be quite good. Besides, the French word is fun to say. Ideally I normally like my vegetables to have some spunk left in them and if they don't then it is ratatouille time.  No matter the dish, the kitchen smells lovely especially if I start off with bacon and then go from that point onward.

In 1986 when we moved into this house I bought a book titled The Chef's Companion; a concise dictionary of culinary terms by Elizabeth Riely.  I refer to it many times and have found it never lets me down. It is not just a French food dictionary, many countries' dishes are listed and described.  I recommend this book if you can still find it. There is an on line company that sells out of print food books.  I got a copy of the Quilted (I think) Giraffe from there.  I also looked for my very favorite cookbook of all times The Virginia Hospitality Cookbook and that company had a few copies of that for sale.  Mine is ragged with spots and splashes and notes sticking out all over it.  The cover is gone, but I use it still and love it each time. I bought my copy in 1977 during a summer antiquing trip with my friend who once owned this house.  I taught three of her four children and said if you ever sell, we will buy this house.  She said when she was 55 she would sell it and she did.  We feel so blessed to have this place with plenty of space and acreage to accommodate heavy entertaining and family when they want to be here. Life is good.