Comments on: In praise of – and a prayer for – the irreplaceable

By: Claire

Claire — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:21:28 +0000

That was a great story! I could just see little Becky plotting….

My grandma has been gone for quite a while, but I still miss her, & I still miss her cooking. She rocked.

By: Becky

Becky — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:20:44 +0000

Gilda, hmm. So here, it’s like getting two for the price of one in Canada…

Thanks, everybody, for all your comments. I’ve loved reading about your own grandmas and your own kitchen treasures. Aprons, cookbooks, fireplace kitchens…. lovely! It’s nice to be able to envision some of you at work and at home in your kitchens.

By: Gilda92

Gilda92 — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 06:04:02 +0000

I love your cookie cutters, but I was entranced by your stand mixer. It’s available in Canada for–wait for it–

$600!!

Sob!

By: lisaiscooking

lisaiscooking — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:40:29 +0000

I have one of my grandma’s 1940s aprons that I know she wore thousands of times along with all her other aprons. It’s definitely irreplaceable.

By: Benj

Benj — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:10:20 +0000

Oh and the one thing I can’t get around the kitchen without? My Buck hunting knife.

By: Shari

Shari — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:07:15 +0000

Simply a beautiful, story, brought tears to my eyes because it reminded me so much of my own childhood staying mostly at my grandparents house. I used to “steal” my grandma’s one and only cookbook and take it up into the cherry tree and read it over and over. Then I would go into their “old house” which was one room and only was used for storage at that time, and pretend I was cooking all those recipes.

My favorite indispensible kitchen tool is a cast iron skillet, one I seasoned over 25 years ago and hope I never lose!

By: glutenfreeforgood

glutenfreeforgood — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:38:20 +0000

I always love your blog posts even if I can’t use the recipe as is. No gluten in my life and most of the time no dairy, so as good as your spicy couscous cups look, I’m going to have to skip this one. BUT, your writing and stories are SO worth it. Plus, I love beans and most often they are good to go as is. It’s funny, I’ve been thinking of doing a post on my favorite kitchen items. You’ve inspired me, although I have too many other posts half-written, so it will have to wait. I love having my fireplace in my kitchen/family room. I build a nice fire and play in my kitchen and enjoy the warmth (both emotionally and physically) it gives off while I am cooking away. As for “tools” — I suppose my tattered recipe collection, many recipes from family and friends. Oh, and my cookbook collection. And my Kitchen Aide mixer. And…
Great post!
Melissa

By: Teresa

Teresa — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 05:30:33 +0000

I loved this story. I didn’t have a cooking grandma as I grew up. The women in my family, up until me, definitely weren’t big on cooking. But you sure made me wish I’d had a granny like that :O)

I just found your blog so I really hope that you won’t be stopping at the end of the year!

By: Marie

Marie — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:58:42 +0000

This is a lovely post, and since I’m a newer reader I don’t mind a repeated recipe since I haven’t made it through the archives yet. I really enjoyed your writing here, and it made me think of things from my own childhood. I have a couple of special things in my kitchen that I couldn’t replace if I had to, things picked up on my travels and a rolling pin that my Italian grandad used to use for pizza and handrolled pasta. Thank you for sharing this and inspiring the reflection.

By: Benj

Benj — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:56:14 +0000

BEAN-stock! Now where in the hell have you been??? This is unacceptable.

Whatever fires you’ve been starting in other peoples kitchens, I’m glad you’re back. And if you have six or seven of these items, as you say, then I guess you’ll be with us a bit longer than the end of the year at least?