I have a confession to make: For the first 18 years living in New York City as a single woman I turned on my oven maybe a dozen times to cook a dish. It usually involved re-heating leftovers from a meal taken elsewhere the night before. Mostly I stored my over abundance of shoes in the unused oven and turned on the stove top to boil water or steam vegetables. That’s about it. I took my meals out; or I ordered in. Simply put: I loved to eat and hated to cook. Living in New York City and working in the food and beverage industry made meal time fun, usually at someone else’s expense or labor.
When David moved into my New York City apartment in 2003 he re-arranged my kitchen and removed the shoes from the oven. He hung pots and pans in places where I usually hung my lingerie to dry. We clashed frequently over this issue. He liked to cook in. I liked to book reservations out. He liked to go out and “grab a quick bite to eat.” I preferred sitting down to a substantial meal with an attentive chef and wait staff. He was a domestic creature. I wanted to take a walk on the wild side….preferably in a nice pair of Jimmy Choos.
Moving to the country was an epiphany for me. It was a different version of “walking on the wild side” since I was the creature who longed for creature comforts but did not want to be tamed. I refer to this chapter of my life as “The Taming of the Shoe Addict.”
Our house started as a weekend retreat but last year we moved to the Hudson Valley full time to immerse ourselves in the “country living experience.” Sometimes I consider myself crazy; other times I feel like I have been saved. With limited restaurants within an easy driving distance, temptation is less accessible. And with a renewed desire to eat healthier, I became a born again cook preaching the gospel of simply prepared dishes using fresh ingredients, preferably from local farms when produce is in season.
I believe David was perplexed at first. The kitchen has always been his turf, a sort of open -style man-cave where he could show off his prowess at the stove and agility with knives. He could flex his culinary muscles to impress his Lady. I invaded his space and his eating regimen as I preached the sins of the red meat flesh and the salvation of a diet rich in fresh vegetables and fruits. David must be silently thinking “Heaven Help Us when Melanie turns on the oven.”
Like an Extra Virgin Olive Oil…Pressed for the Very First Time
I still forget to turn things off…or down. And he still re-washes all of my dishes as if I am going to poison him. But, after eight years of marriage, we’re consciously coupling in a new way by cooking together. Turning up the flame in the kitchen has rekindled our passion and appreciation for each other. It’s a marriage made in heaven….straight from the oven. What can I say but, “Hallelujah, Y’all! I’ve seen the pilot light!”
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Want to Spring Clean your menu and drinks repertoire? Tune into Fearless Fabulous You! April 20th, 9-9:50 pm ET to hear from Chef Ashton Keefe and The Liquid Muse Natalie Bovis. 9pmET on W4WN and iHeart radio. Each week I interview inspiring women and experts on health, wellness and nutrition.
Ashton Keefe is a classically trained chef with a passion for all things food. Having grown up as the daughter of a chef and self-proclaimed, “Kitchen Bully” Ashton instead began baking in the “pastry kitchen” of her home: the only area she was allotted territory. From here, her blog, “Diary of a Sweet Tooth” began.
Ashton Keefe
She has been featured on Food Network’s Guy vs. Rachael, BetterTV and Potluck Video. Ashton is also a regular stylist on NBC’s Today Show. In addition, Ashton edits Today Show regular and wine expert Leslie Sbrocco’s Thirsty Girl. She writes and develops for O Magazine, Everyday with Rachael Ray Magazine, Shape Magazine, The Latin Kitchen, The Local Palate, Food 52 and Whole Foods Market
Ashton’s new book is Lemon & Salt: A Modern Girl’s Guide to Culinary Revelry. I could eat the cover!
Connect:
https://twitter.com/ashtonkeefe
https://www.facebook.com/chefashtonkeefe
http://instagram.com/ashtonkeefe/
When I wanted to share some tasty. simple, healthy “mocktails” in my first book, Getting Things Off My Chest Survivor’s Guide to Staying Fearless & Fabulous in the Face of Breast Cancer I reached out to Natalie Bovis, the brilliant and bubbling “Liquid Muse” and author of Preggatinis: Mixology for the Moms-To-Be. I knew some of her flavorful and soothing, alcohol free drink recipes would help women undergoing chemotherapy whose palates and digestive systems were very sensitive.
Natalie Bovis
Natalie’s straightforward style makes mixology approachable to drink enthusiasts of all types, from bartenders seeking inspiration to pregnant moms looking for great nonalcoholic recipes. She is also a leading voice in the garden-to-glass movement, marrying kitchen with bar in cocktails that feature organically grown fruits, vegetables and herbs. Natalie is the Kiss My Glass columnist for the Sante Fe Reporter (NM) where she currently resides.
I’ve known Natalie for years through our forays in the cocktail world and have admired her style and knowledge to help make cocktails approachable to consumers. The Liquid Muse has been featured People.com, Everyday with Rachael Ray, US Weekly, American Way, TheKnot.com, L.A. Weekly, Daily Candy, Washington Post, Marie Claire Magazine, and many more, as well as national TV and radio shows, as a trusted online resource for cocktail enthusiasts.
Connect:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Liquid-Muse/124838154393
Twitter: https://twitter.com/theliquidmuse/
