Remember when we were kids and everything seemed so darn easy? When did cooking become more than simply playtime in the kitchen? When did it stop being okay to play dress-up with aprons and create new inventions with flour, sugar and (green) food coloring?
I don’t want to grow up.
So, I’ve decided it’s time to get back to the basics. Yeah, we might still have taxes, bad haircuts, car payments, broken windows and bills, but if you start thinking of cooking using a child’s mind, you’ll always have an instant escape.
Have no idea where to start? Let me refresh your memory.
It’s usually best to just use your fingers.
Sugar and butter make even green vegetables taste good.
Licking the spoon is always necessary.
Great pasta dough starts with a volcano.
Don’t wear wear white in the kitchen. It is, on the other hand, perfectly acceptable to wear cute pink aprons from Anthropologie and the occasional pair of heels.
And finally, don’t attempt to try on old wetsuits from 2007 after feasting on fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and coleslaw.
You’ll just have to trust me on that one.
Over and out.
R @ Learning As I Chop
September 27, 2010 at 12:52 pmDefinitely best to use your fingers
Jessica @ How Sweet
September 27, 2010 at 1:09 pmI definitely never want to grow up. Ever.
Amber K
September 27, 2010 at 1:09 pmI don’t want to grow up either!
Heather (Heather's Dish)
September 27, 2010 at 1:09 pmthe fingers are the best tools! i love getting dirty in the kitchen…that’s half the fun!
Jil
September 27, 2010 at 1:10 pmLove this!! I always lick the bowl – my mom even saves it for me if I’m around. haha
Cristen
September 27, 2010 at 1:16 pmLoved this post! Totally made me smile. Read it right after I used my hands for the apple crisp topping!
Alex
September 27, 2010 at 1:18 pmI was having a tough day, and this post made it a little easier. Thanks for making me laugh… gosh I LOVE your blog. 🙂
Christine
September 27, 2010 at 1:18 pmLove this post!
On a practical note, however — I’ve worn heels in the kitchen–now mind you I am an EXPERT in heels and wear them everyday–but in the kitchen, what throws me off is not instability from balancing my entire body weight on such a small surface area. No, no. It’s that I am a different HIGHT from the counter. Being a different hight causes me to forget how to use a knife. It’s weird. And not good.
I do it anyway.
In a fancy apron. Sometimes I even wear my PEARLS. Donna Reed ain’t got nothin’ on me!
Liz @ LBBakes
September 27, 2010 at 1:18 pmThat volcano makes me want to make some pasta!
Susan@MomSwimBikeRun
September 27, 2010 at 1:18 pmI gave my daughter the bowl and a spoon yesteday and she went to town. There’s nothing like experiencing it but watching your daughter experience the joy of “licking the spoon” is even better!
S @ extremebalance.net/blog
September 27, 2010 at 1:19 pmGood tip! Because I *do* usually feel like playing dress-up after fried chicken, mac ‘n’ cheese and ‘slaw.
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman
September 27, 2010 at 1:21 pmAnd also: it’s OK to lick the bowl. No, it’s necessary.
Erin @ Travel Eat Repeat
September 27, 2010 at 1:23 pmAwesome. Double yes to using your fingers and licking the bowl. Always necessary.
And loving the orange Le Creuset. I think I’m mostly attracted to Le Creuset for all the fun colors; it being good cookware is definitely secondary.
Andrea
September 27, 2010 at 1:27 pmHa! I used to make inventions as well in my star brite kitchen. Mine consisted of crushed up goldfish, baby powder, water and sugar though.
Laura (Blogging Over Thyme)
September 27, 2010 at 1:30 pmThis was a really fun post Jenna! Well done.
Kristina @ spabettie
September 27, 2010 at 1:36 pmyeah, no… I’m not going to fall for this “growing up” thing either. ;D
Food & Other Things
September 27, 2010 at 1:39 pmI love the writing in this post and what a great message!
Katryn@rampantcuisine
September 27, 2010 at 1:43 pmAwww, one of your best posts ever. Great reminder to not take life so seriously!
Liz
September 27, 2010 at 1:47 pmHoly modeling shot! Gorgeous 🙂
hippierunner
September 27, 2010 at 1:54 pmI like how this post was simple and playful!
Sana
September 27, 2010 at 2:09 pmAlways use fingers to connect with your food 🙂
Lisa
September 27, 2010 at 2:24 pmBeing an adult is HARD and sometimes it really really sucks! But on the flip side, as adults if we want to call in sick to work and watch HGTV all day, or eat ice cream for dinner or not doing laundry…we can. 🙂
Liz @ Tip Top Shape
September 27, 2010 at 2:54 pmYour posts always make me smile 😀 Wonderful!
Rachael
September 27, 2010 at 3:19 pmFun post – basic life lessons that we somehow master at 5, then forget about by 20. I believe there’s a poster about that, hanging in a kindergarten classroom somewhere.
I think I bake bread just because I enjoy the sensory experience of it – same thing with making pasta, or anything else hands-on. I love the feel of dough, stretching, pounding, kneading – truly therapeutic!
stacey-healthylife
September 27, 2010 at 3:36 pmI do believe in getting back to the basics and the way it use to be. With simple real ingredients.
tina
September 27, 2010 at 3:38 pmisn’t it funny how much better your feel once you’ve put on a ruffly apron?
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey
September 27, 2010 at 3:42 pmThanks for the reminder! Luckily for me, I get to act like a kid every day when I teach.. Well, I don’t always act like the kid because there does need to be a responsible adult in the room, but at least I am reminded of what kids are supposed to be like! 🙂 It usually puts me in a fantastic mood for the rest of the day!
3 cheers for green food and mushing dough around with your fingers!!!
theemptynutjar
September 27, 2010 at 3:49 pmIf we could all live as kids, things would be a lot easier, no?
Sadly, I don’t think a kid would have had to pay $1000 for a beat-up old car that might only last another year anyway…oye…to be a kid again!
We all should make time for play though. Somehow, no matter what.
Kelly
September 27, 2010 at 3:58 pmawesome post, I don’t want to grow up either
Stacey
September 27, 2010 at 4:06 pmBoo to growing up! I love using my hands to mix ingredients 🙂 it makes me feel like a kid again. And here’s to wearing heels in the kitchen! 🙂 love this post
Alison
September 27, 2010 at 4:27 pmI refuse to consider myself an adult, even if I have all the responsibilities of one. Great post! I think I’ll go bake something 🙂
Ashley
September 27, 2010 at 4:31 pmhaha. good post! Made me laugh during stressful studying that I am doing for an exam. thx 🙂
sarah k. @ the pajama chef
September 27, 2010 at 4:32 pm1) i always cook with my hands. as long as you wash ’em it’s okay right? 🙂
2) licking the spoon is necessary!
3) aprons are the best!
Lizzie
September 27, 2010 at 5:18 pmI’m 34 and my husband and I are always joking about how we aren’t grown ups at all. The closest thing we have to it is the mortgage on our condo 🙂 But there’s something to be said about thinking young . . I am always told that I look mid to late twenties, so must be doing something right! 🙂 Great post Jenna.
Natalia - a side of simple
September 27, 2010 at 5:27 pmAw, great post! Lovin’ it.
Cara
September 27, 2010 at 5:51 pmYou look so healthy in your pic! You are glowing !!!
Jamie @ Food in Real Life
September 27, 2010 at 6:09 pmWhenever I bake cakes I am always transported back to being a little girl. Something about the smell of frosting and cake mix that do it. (I’m talking about the boxed stuff, because that’s how we roll in my family) Unless you have some funfetti cake recipes I didn’t see yet?
eatmovelove
September 27, 2010 at 6:11 pmHmmm – don’t wear white? I say don’t wear BLACK! Oh Good Lord – which I do ALL the time…just tonight in fact with a (remarkable if I do say so myself) Zucchini Loaf…;) – it’s for someone else though – so I must make one ASAP for myself before I rip into it….
Laughter-Loving Stacy
September 27, 2010 at 6:38 pmI’ve just started loving to cook! It’s been lots and lots of fun! (I’ve made your homemade turkey chili for the 8th time. I know it by heart and don’t even need to write a recipe list down, which is a big deal for me!!!)
🙂
Nicole@TheSaltedKitchen
September 27, 2010 at 6:47 pmI was just thinking how much I hate growing up today when I was handed my first official job offer (like, a real job). I have to do the whole negotiation thing and it’s all so scary. I hate having to think about health insurance, bills, and other crappy responsible things! Why were we so anxious to grow up, anyways?!
Mary (What's Cookin' with Mary)
September 27, 2010 at 7:10 pmmmmmmmmmmmm bowl ‘o chocolate! Makes me want to jump in!!!
When I was little, my Mom and Dad let me play with flour, water… salt… stuff like that to make my ‘creations’. Good memories.
Emilee
September 27, 2010 at 7:16 pmYou are glowing in that first pic. Your skin looks great!
Vanessa @ The Weekly Yogi
September 27, 2010 at 8:06 pmEchoing more comments that you certainly are radiating a healthy glow in these pictures! Yes, we have bills and the occasional break-in to worry about but you’re absolutely right to be optimistic and share a sense of humor with each other as children do!
Also, I think I mastered the art of wearing heels in the kitchen. Kitten heels, that is. But heels nonetheless!
Camille
September 27, 2010 at 8:31 pmHaha, trying on wetsuits after dinner wouldn’t even cross my mind 🙂
kelsey@snackingsquirrel.com
September 27, 2010 at 9:37 pmok, lets make a pact, we’ll never grow up! mmm’kay done. <3
XOXO
Laura @ Backstage Pass to Health & Happiness
September 27, 2010 at 9:48 pmThat photo of you is gorgeous! You look truly happy.
I like the message of this post… sometimes, the things that we think are complicated, or that we think have to be complicated, can in fact be quite simple. Lesson learned!
Moni'sMeals
September 27, 2010 at 10:52 pmgreat photos! Yes we should always play with our food-always. hilarious about the wet suit!!
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)
September 28, 2010 at 12:32 am“It is, on the other hand, perfectly acceptable to wear cute pink aprons from Anthropologie and the occasional pair of heels.”
I love anthro! And I love heels! When I was pregnant with my daughter, I bought her and I matching Antrho mommy and me aprons. And have proceeded to never use them! We just get dirty on our Target tshirts and save the “good stuff”, i.e. the Anthro aprons for a rainy day.
Wet suits suck no matter what. I HATE wearing wetsuits. I have vowed to only dive in water that I dont need a suit. God bless you for even trying to put one on. I won’t even wear a shortie. I freakin HATE wetsuits of all kinds! Sorry for the rant 🙂
Emily
September 28, 2010 at 5:17 amAmen to the Anthropologie aprons! I think I buy a new one every time I can convince myself that walking into the store IS a good idea for my financial situation 🙂 the aprons are so girly and wonderful – pair them with some heels and I feel like a little domestic goddess 🙂 Thanks for the post!
Em
September 28, 2010 at 6:15 amOkay, must go get cute fun aprons for weekend cooking fests!
LOVE this post!
Sarah (Oc2Seattle)
September 28, 2010 at 1:03 pmBest not to try on old wetsuits – ever. I know this from personal experience – it was ugly 😉
Erika @ Food, Fitness, & Fun
September 28, 2010 at 2:02 pmSuch a cute post! I never want to grow up either – I love experimenting in the kitchen. <3
kaila
September 28, 2010 at 7:22 pmbeing a full fledged adult seems so far away right now…..but i know when i get there i will always be a kid at heart…..channeling peter pan all the way!!!! 🙂