Externally Processing My Way Through Life

I made the mistake of going to see Julie&Julia this weekend. I say mistake because it has plunged me back into a world that I was trying hard to keep at arms length.

The movie was so good. My new favorite. I had considered going by myself just to be without distractions and take it all in. I am glad I went with friends though. I just sat their with kind of a stupid grin on my face almost the entire movie enjoying every morsel of it's goodness. When it was over I just wanted to sit for awhile, taking it all in. Savoring the culinary greatness before me (along with Meryl's stunning portrayal).

But alas I had to go home. Home with my mind filled with such wonderful things like Le Cresuset dutch ovens, coq au vin, All Clad copper pots, beurre blanc, lobster Bearnaise, and pretty, pretty knives.

And this is why I said mistake. I have no Le Creuset, or copper pots. I cannot afford lobster. My culinary creativity has been stifled by fickle toddlers, a slightly limited palette from my husband (no mushrooms?), a time pressed schedule and grocery budget.

So for now I will amuse myself with peasant dishes (like Julia's ratatouille, on tonights dinner menu) and caramelized onions and Boursin on my grilled veggie panini for lunch. I will be elbow deep in dough this afternoon, and contemplating creative new kinds of cupcakes. Because flour and sugar are oh-so-cheap. I will thrive on the very occasional trip to a nice restaurant, and salivate for weeks on end about the memory of the last one, and the luscious dishes to come at the next.

So this is why I will urge you to go see this movie with caution. If you aren't a food lover, than go, maybe it will ignite your senses to a wondrous world you were previously in the dark about. But if you already consider yourself a "foodie" and the sight of a well made pastry sets heartbeat a little faster, than I will just say, you have been warned.