Food & Magic

by The Very Cranky Mummy 3:38 AM 0 comments books cooking memories perspective wine party

I have a new favourite kids' book: 'Cooking with Grandma'.

I almost feel like a child again, delving into the pages with wonder and pouring over every detail of the illustrations. The content of the book is actually quite simple, following Anya's visit to her grandparents house and what they cook each day. The magic is in how each creation becomes part of an experience where they create a scene, share their offerings or invite people to join in the feast, culminating in a magnificent party with everyone around a scrumptious looking, cherry-laden chocolate cake!

The Grandma in the book is amazing. In every picture she has a look of pure joy, surrounded by cooking chaos, wearing homemade chefs hats and dressing up to the nines, sharing her skills and creating whimsical experiences for her granddaughter.

She embodies a complete understanding of 'the good life', embracing every moment and finding utopia in the seemingly mundane, bringing people together with food and magic. I so want to be like her!

We just had another Wine Tasting Party on Friday night. I took Eli and Hudson to the deli with me to choose from the tempting array of cured meats and cheeses. I felt like a kid in a candy store as we pointed to all of the treats we wanted to take home! There is something pretty special about getting the house and food ready for an impending party... hanging decorations, putting scent in the candle burner (Yankee's Vanilla Cupcake), slicing the homemade bread, arranging the salami and brie and grapes and dips onto the butchers paper. As people arrived, one by one, Eli's anticipation grew and he positively danced with excitement, playing the perfect host by hand delivering Sea Salt and Balsamic Vinegar chips to each of the guests!

The wine tasting format is pretty awesome too, with the funny/meaningful stories people come up with for their wines, and the prospect of new tastes and experiences every 10 minutes. As the night progresses, people relax more and the sounds of animated discussion and belly laughter fill the air. Every time we finish one of these nights we emphatically declare that we should have them every month! The only downfall is that my motivation to host them goes down dramatically when I become pregnant...

I really hope that my children can catch even a little of the magic of bringing people together through food. It really seems to me that it is the perfect place to share life with others, generously give to those around us and create moments that will never be forgotten. I hope that when I look back on my life, I will have been like that Grandma, living with such joy, generosity and wonder, creating moments of magic that draw people in, like the warm glow of a candle in the window where a storm blusters and blows outside. What a privilege that would be.