Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Why Didn’t I Think of That?

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I left the movie theater , like so many of you, inspired and smiling at the chameleon talent of Meryl Streep/Julia Child, the wonderful world of daily blogging, the frustrations and joy of the ‘servantless ‘ cook Julie Powell/Amy Adams, and how food really does mean love.

Growing up in South Texas, the love I felt via home cooking came my way from the kitchens of my mother, my grandmothers, and later my friends’ home cooking.

I love a good recipe, I love family food, and I love blogging- so why didn’t I think of preparing one of Julia Child’s recipes each day and blogging about it?

About a month ago I realized, when my daughters gave me a copy of the book to read, long before I saw the film, that I own two of Julia Child’s cookbooks.

Something about the description in Julie Powell’s book about the cookbook’s cover had me wandering around the house asking, “Where have I seen that book?”

While in the laundry room, where a large stash of my cookbooks is stored, I happened to glance up and lo and behold, there sat both volumes of Mastering the Art of French Cooking resting on top of a corner hutch.

Apparently I bought Volumes I and II at the flea market (who knows when), and I was using them- not for their French culinary secrets- but rather as props.

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Regardless, I thought , as I imagined cooking from these cookbooks on a daily, weekly, monthly, or more realistically, a quarterly basis, “It could happen.”

Like so many things, it just takes a Day I. I have had a great deal of experience with Day I’s. Those are the days that are supposed to be the first day of the rest of your life, starting Monday, and so on.

So, why didn’t I think of that?

21 comments:

Domestic Designer said...

I haven't seen the movie yet but I am hoping to go some time this week. Can't wait!

trash talk said...

Great minds must think alike. I just did a post on my "lost" cookbook! Check out what they are bringing on e-bay. Mine is a 1964 edition and I almost fell out of my chair...and I only have vol. 1. Wait till you see what both volumes are at!
Debbie

Leave a Legacy said...

When I heard of this book and movie I thought the same thing, "Why didn't I think of that?" Any one of us bloggers could have done what Julie did, I think. You never know, maybe some day someone will want to make a movie about one of our blogs. You never know!

Glimpse of My World said...

Laura, you won my drawing. please send me your address to valariekerby@mac.com and I will mail them to you!! Smiles!

Lavender Chick said...

I can't wait to see the movie! You're the first person I've heard talk about it, so glad to hear that you enjoyed it. I love Julia Childs! Have the cookbook, too - I'm a collector of cookbooks. Don't know why, being that I hate to follow instructions, but I can sit and read recipes for hours!

Debra@CommonGround said...

Can you imagine how much money your grocery bill would be if you prepared one of her meals every day? (Just a thought) Besides I like looking at lambs, not eating them. LOL
Debra

donna baker said...

Laura, did you know the Smithsonian has her replica kitchen down to the smallest details?

Karen said...

Love your blog entries... always, but this one was especially good. I guess since I have always been a Julia Child fan. She was such an interesting person with an almost mysterious background. Wow!
Karen

Blondie's Journal said...

Oh, Laura...just when I blogged and am ready to pull out my hair beause I am so disorganized, I hear about this women trying to re~create all of JC'S recipes. Well I tried to do that with Marchella Hazen for several months and no one offered me a movie!!

Oh!! If we could enter a nunnery and complete all of Julis's recipes without interrruption...

xoxo
Jane

xoxo
Jane

Rebecca Nelson said...

This is sooo charming! Going to see that little flick this weekend...

You blog continues to DELIGHT ME!

xoRebecca

Elizabethd said...

I've heard so much about this film, I'm longing to see it. Julia Child was one of my favourite cooks.

Jo said...

Clever girl! I can't wait to see the movie ~ maybe this weekend.

Jo

Sandy aka Doris the Great said...

I saw the movie last weekend and loved it! I read Julia Child's autobiography about 2 yr ago and fell in love with her so much, that I wanted to hang a picture of her on my wall. She was such a character! I did look for her cookbook immediately following but was appalled at the price. Then I figured that I'd probably never cook enough of her dishes to warrant a cookbook; so I settled for her picture -- in a scrapbook.

Bon apetite bloggies! (said in a quirky sort-of shrill voice with a smile!!!)

kate said...

laura,
I loved the movie, not only the food, but looking at the wallpaper, drapes, clothes, furniture....loved , loved. I also like the newer Julia, i thought she was cute, talented, so people, said they only liked the meryl strep chareter, but i liked both. thanks for letting us look at your cookbooks.
kate

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Wasn't it fun, Laura? I pulled out my cookbooks, made my grocery list, but still haven't tackled my boeuf bourguignon yet! lol I really want to follow the recipe exactly and I keep thinking about peeling those 18-24 pearl onions! Yikes! I honestly don't know how Julie did it after working all day...not to mention the expense! Not an easy task! Hope you are enjoying your week!...Debbie

Dixie said...

I haven't seen the movie yet... but it's on my list... what a wonderful find..having those 2 cookbooks stashed away... I came by to tell you that YOUR POSTS often remind ME of something I need to do... today... I need to look through my stash of cookbooks in the laundry room and see if I have a julia amongst them! ;)

Inspired Comblogulations said...

Well, I bet the value of those cookbooks will go sky high now. I can't wait to see this flick.
Laura, you do have a delightful blog. I think personally it is your southern flavors and your stories about your momma.
Pay me a visit sometime... I see your picture everywhere in blog world especially in TEXAS!!! I have a new blog....
You joined my "Shiloh Shabby Chateau" blog but it's just advertising and I don't acutally blog on it. My how you're followers have multiplied... must be doing something right.
Be blessed....

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

I can't wait to see this movie. The book was hysterical. I am not even going to attempt a "day 1" of cooking Julia's recipes. I KNOW I'd be a failure at them. Good luck. laurie

j said...

I went to see the movie by myself and I was the youngest person in the theater AND the only blogger (based on the fact that I was the only one giggling over the blogging references).

Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci made that film *POP*! Their performances were amazing.

How absolutely COOL that you have the cookbooks!

Marguerite said...

So cool that you have her cookbooks. They are classics and are probably worth quite a bit of money. Her recipes are a far cry from Cajun cooking. lol Haven't seen the movie, yet, but am looking forward to it.

Nancy said...

I can't wait to see the movie. I love cooking, blogging, and Meryl Streep - what's not to love?

 

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