BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Only in the comfort of our own home, when we are perfectly alone, do we find we have the permission to lick plates clean and spit out cherry pits directly from our mouth to the plate.

Politeness and manners are redefined when we find ourselves in our own company.

Refreshing and relaxing.

SOUND ADVICE

"Last night I couldn't fall asleep.

You know what I do when I can't fall asleep?

I hold my breath..."

                     

                       -Victoria, age 9

Talking with my mouth full

I recently acquired a half eaten jar of peanut butter. But this is the thing. I don't eat that kind. Oh you know which I mean! The one with multiple ingredients and 2 serene yet creepy looking bears on the label. Oh no. Not this health nut. Only 100% just peanuts peanut butter for me! (I have also taken a liking to ones with a bit of added salt. Divine.)

So since I wouldn't actually eat it, I decided to bake cookies for the lovely person that brought it into my life. They LOVE peanut butter  cookies. And I knew that the all natural stuff was not gonna cut it for them.

1 c. peanut butter

1/2 c. sugar

1 egg

!!!

I remember my mom making these exact cookies, with the forked hatch marks and everything, for me when I was a child. They were my absolute favourite in the kindergarten days. Funny though. When I was a kid, "hydrogenated oils" wasn't a household word. Neither was "whole" or "all natural" or "organic" or "low fat" or "heart healthy".

They were just peanut butter cookies. Plain and simple. My mom didn't think about what was going into them and I certainly didn't either. OK. After-all,I was a child. But, I find it almost unfathomable to imagine being so innocent with regards to my food. So carefree and plain old ignorant. Just seeing... no! even just thinking about those 2 bears now makes me go into mini-rants about the importance of whole foods and dangers of white sugar and child obesity (even if it is to myself and my kitchen).

Needless to say, the cookies were a hit. Eaten. Appreciated. I'll admit: I had fun making them. Even if I did sneak a peak at the ingredients and immediately felt bad for feeding this person "fake" peanut butter. I was glad to make someone's day with a simple peanut butter cookie. But at what true cost to them?...

Has anyone seen my glass of organic milk?...

"How vain it is to sit down and write 

when you have not stood up to live."

  - Thoreau

and on that note...

Fancy Sauce...

Sometimes 2 things are combined which create a perfect balance.

For example: chocolate and salt, a perfectly aged wine and a delectable cheese, a hot summer's day and the coolness of a dip in the lake, a beer and a patio.

Sometimes 2 things are combined which create a perfect balance,

and you never knew. Couldn't imagine. It's been under your nose (or in your fridge) all these years- Unchartered territory- And all it takes is some special someone to bring it to your attention. 

To open your eyes (and taste buds) to the possibility of this perfect pairing.

A match made in heaven...

Ketchup...

Mayo...

Alone: familiar. Sensible. Straight-forward. Basic.

Together...  fancy sauce.