In My Kitchen
So this week, in lieu of a regular Monday post, I thought it would be kind of fun to do something a little different. I thought you might like a little peek behind the scenes in my kitchen.
The photo above is my itty bitty cooking space in all its antithesis of glory. I'm talking about this kitchen is a HOT MESS.
The reason I thought I should share my totally dysfunctional disaster is because when I first began this blog my goal was to inspire others to cook. To prove that seriously you guys, it's not hard. I wanted to create a place for recipes that are not pretentious or scary or that call for spices you can only order on the internet (because when I wanna make something I don't wanna wait 3-5 days, amiright?). I wanted to put tangible fresh food out to the world in a really easy family-friendly (budget conscious!!) way.
And I wanted to prove that it could be done without fabulous granite counter tops and a stainless steel fridge (although... I would like to note that I would very much love granite counter tops and a stainless steel fridge in our new house. Just sayin').
Blogging seriously intimidated me at first because EVERYTHING IS SO PRETTY. All the time. So my mismatched dishes and formica-filled kitchen seemed like a huge hurdle. Like I wouldn't be a part of the club. When I'm having a crappy day, I still feel that way. But you- my readers- you all come from so many walks of life. I have some that probably make more money in a year than I will ever see in ten. I have others that scrape by and email me for vegan substitutions because dairy is not in their budget.
The food brings us all together.
I use really old muffin tins. I don't own a KitchenAid mixer. Most of my photos happen on my kitchen table that I bought second hand ten years ago. If you all have been here for awhile you'll remember that we live in a little shoebox in my version of nowhere while we save to buy a house. The only standard-sized burner on my stove doesn't work. The knobs on my oven do not display the temperature. I have to lay a cutting board across my sink to prep my veggies.
But I still cook everyday all the time. And I still love it.
I guess the point to all this is that I'm just a home cook in a crummy little kitchen trying to feed my family and not cave in to the ease of take-out or monotony. I really truly believe that if you can read, you can cook. You just need the desire. For more about me, my background, and Sugar Dish Me read here. And here is Norma Jean, just so you know that yes, it is Monday.
Hi, cool post and blog! I was searching for ideas on manufactured home / mobile home bathroom remodeling and came upon your site Trailer Trashtastic - we own ours finally and are remodeling the master bath {quality depends on year, make and model} I like your style of commentary, and this post is so true... I don't have granite counter tops either, just the standard easy to clean formica, that has held up for 15 years and counting! New follower via BlogLovin'. And I love blueberry anything 😉
Hi JoAnn! So glad you found your way here!!!
I love this post, a lot. You are real, authentic, and don't try to be anyone else but you which is a really great thing! Keep up the great work! 🙂
Awww thank you Ashley! Sometimes I think posts like this are almost the most fun (but the most scary) to write 🙂
I loved this post, Heather! And you have shown us that success lies not in phancy photos and styling (though I'm sure it helps) but in great recipes and sincere writing. And when you have Norma, you don't need to dress up your photos 🙂 Much love!! xoxo
Thank you sooooo much Meenakshi!! Just trying to keep it real over here 🙂 Norma majorly helps-- but I'm not sure she knows that.
What a fantastic post! Always loved your style Heather.
Thanks Tia! Though I'm not sure style is the right word for what's going on in this kitchen...
Aww Norma Jean loves to bake too hahaha Those muffins look good!! And even though you're not a huge fan of your house...I still think it's adorable!!!
Norma loves that bowl. And she loves to annoy me. Thank you Michelle!!
Thank you for bringing the attention back to where it belongs- the passion. Who needs fancy equipment if you have the drive to do it?
Thank you Rayna! Passion is right! Plus I'm hungry.
You know the saying "God works in mysterious ways"? I won't doubt it any more. You were just what I needed today. I won't try to explain, just know you have touched me and, I am sure, many more people today. Thank you for being so honest and real. Wish we could meet and have a cup of coffee(tea?) and something scrumptious you've made!
Linda-- I am so glad! Your comment really touched me. It really means the world to get such sincere feedback and to know that I might have brightened your day is THE BEST feeling. You will be in my thoughts-- I appreciate you! And also I'm a coffee junkie. You bring the lattes and I'll bring the goodies 🙂
Like your blog basically says you try to make easy, tasty and afordable recipes and I think you do just that. I have told you many times how glad I am to have found you. The food looks great and the stories behind it are awesome. You can do a lot with a kitchen with a can of paint. I watch those shows & that is the best bang for your buck. I have formica and painted my cabinets & got new door knobs & it looks like a new kitchen. I also have to say I love the cat in the bowl, but if that was my cat it would totally get squirt with the sink hose so it would never do it again!! LOL, LOL---Rachel
Norma Jean has her very own squirt bottle. I don't even have to spray her anymore. If she sees it she runs lol. She really has a thing with that bowl though. I always end up washing it 3 times...
I'm so glad you found my blog and like my recipes! Makes my day like you wouldn't believe.
I have painted some of this place, but it's a rental, we are house shopping, and I'm just ready to go. We have outgrown the space-- the boys were so much smaller when we moved in! I'll be painting my new kitchen for sure though. Hopefully I can find one to fit my needs! Thanks Rachel!
Love the kitty in a bowl! Kitties show us as to enjoy even shoeboxes 😉
Kitties do make the shoebox bearable lol. Norma Jean is a trip.
Look how clean your kitchen is! Beautiful!! The military has brought us through many kitchens and every single one had the basics, which is all I've needed. I now have an upgrated kitchen, but I still dream of spacious kitchens with sub-zero everything 🙂
Keep up the great work, Heather! Oh, our kitties jump on our table....and counters too!! It doesn't faze them as I yell my head off to get down. I can't imagine what they do while I'm at work 😉
Norma Jean jumps in that bowl every. single. time. I wash it, dry it, and set it on the table. She's not really a counter cruiser thank goodness. I think she just likes the warm glass. She also likes me to wash the same dishes over and over and over.
And thank you! This kitchen stays clean out of necessity though. One thing out of place and it looks like a bomb went off in here. You shoulda seen it when I made 5 things to photograph yesterday...
By the way...is that Meyer's Clean Day soap on your sink? I love, love, LOVE the Basil scent... holy smokes, it's addicting. 🙂
It IS Meyer's! This one is Lemon. I've never bought the basil! You've inspired me to find some!
Oh definitely...find the basil if you can. If you can't..please let me know and I'll be sure to send you some. You won't go back to anything but the basil. Yeah, it's just that good. 🙂
This is the sweetest post I've ever seen... you are the sweetest thing..honestly.
I am 51 years old, and am still living in a house built in 1936 with the original kitchen from 1936. It's old. It's tired. I hate it so much at times, and have been so embarrassed to have friends over, just because it's so old and tired.
But you're right... it doesn't matter what the kitchen looks like. What matters is the love that is poured into the creations that come out of that kitchen. I continue to cook because it is therapy for me. It makes me happy to make others happy.
Not too long ago, my mom (she has cancer) said to me... "Pru, I really hope I get to see your new kitchen before I die." I answered... "Mom, I really hope I get to see my new kitchen before "I" die"...
Lol..my new kitchen may never happen in my lifetime, but I'll just keep on keepin' on... because in the end, that's what makes me happy. 🙂
Thank you for this. I needed that.
That was the sweetest comment I think I have ever received. Thank you for that! I really do think it's so important to remember that things like good food are such great equalizers and fancy stuff might make the production easier, but it's the person behind the meal and what they pour into it makes it taste good. Cooking is a major creative outlet for me-- total therapy. You are so right to keep on keepin on... it's really all any of us can do! You and your mom will be in my thoughts <3
Kitties in glass bowls taste so fluffy!
Loved the kitchen picture...and it's not what the kitchen looks like that matters it's the tasty yummy-ness that you create that makes it AWESOME!
Thank you Denise!
And you're right. Kitties in glass bowls DO taste fluffy!