Cooking

I have a food blog, and for the past month I have been not been cooking. Oh sure, I have cooked a few things, some cauliflower soup, a roasted chicken, and last week I made some macaroni and cheese and used smoked cheese, but nothing I was even moved to photograph or make notes about. I write about food, and without cooking I’m not sure what to write about. I wish there was something I was dying to eat (besides those dumplings) or cook, but at this point it all feels like a chore, and I’m starting to worry.

Last week I went out for lunch with my friend Corrine to Alla Spina, and it was delicious, and I truly enjoyed it. I’ve even been thinking about going back to get the hamburger—she ordered it and I tasted it, and now I want one of my own. So that’s two things I want to eat, and still nothing I feel like cooking. I’ve been eating canned soup, and apples with slices of cheese. I even have soup for breakfast. I’m not sure if this is fatigue, laziness or some other deeper issue. Generally as soon as the weather turns cold I’m brimming with ideas for cooking projects, and planning dinner parties.

I did have some plans to cook. I intended to make a pasta dish with broccoli rabe and a melted anchovy sauce to write about, and I even bought the ingredients. Does it sound good to you? To me it just seems like too much trouble, though my fridge is starting to smell very broccoli rabe-y, so I’ll need to cook it soon, maybe tonight. Yesterday I was talking about trying to roll out pie crust with my pasta maker, and I sort of promised my daughter an apple pie next weekend, and maybe I’ll manage to do it.

Cold weather should mean risottos, soups, sauces, braises and stews. I should be getting out my Dutch oven and pressure cooker. I should be all fired up, and so should my kitchen, but just thinking about all that is overwhelming. I need to start slowly, get myself re-acclimated, get on the on ramp before I purchase a pork shoulder that right now I can’t even lift into the pot. I think today I’ll bake some bread.