Wednesday, December 21, 2016

It's Warm in the Kitchen :: Three Hundred Fifty Six

The oven is preheating for the bread. We made chocolate chip cookies. We might bake brownies, or those cranberry-pecan bars I mentioned. I roasted chicken, with almonds on top. And that chicken on the stove is seasoned and spiced for tamales, but I have flour tortillas, and sometimes it's too hard to wait for tamales, when those burritos will taste delicious, too.

Yes, I am cooking a lot. Too much. It's almost compulsory, this time of year, isn't it? It's a heady mix of habit, tradition, and hiraeth. Oh woe, lachrymose me, with my ineffable emotions, nostalgia, and sentimentality.

It's warm in the kitchen, and blustery outside. I count my blessings, but cannot quell the murmur in my heart that wishes family were nearer, and time moved more gently. Maybe all of these pots and pans, spices and nourishment are a recipe to conjure comfort, summon solace.

With Infinity More Monkeys, a picture a day.

2 comments:

Adaliza said...

Well, fancy you using the Welsh word Hiraeth in your post. I've never heard it outside of west Wales where I grew up. In the tradition of Celts and my dark Welsh ancestors, I'll wish you all Nadolig Llawen (Merry Christmas) and a very Blwyddyn Newydd Dda (Happy New Year). All those dd's are pronounced th! Welsh is like that! Ax

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

I love WORDS! It's such a thrill to find a word that expresses ideas, feelings that I otherwise feel at a loss to describe or convey. And if it's found in a foreign language, I am perfectly delighted to make that language familiar.

I feel honored by your wishes, and traditions. Thank you for sharing this part of you, your words are beautiful.

Nadolig Llawen, friend, and Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!