My Dream Kitchen

I have always admired kitchens that are minimalistic in their decor with vast islands of stainless steel and granite, gleaming hardwood that mirrors puritan cleanliness, and a well-placed museum vase to add warmth and interest to an otherwise sterile environment. I love to imagine preparing for a dinner party in a kitchen like that, where I have nothing to hamper my creativity and plenty of room and gadgets of all sorts to ease the cooking process. I have resigned myself to the fact that I will never have one of those kitchens.

I survey my kitchen counter, even as I'm writing these lines. Bottles of wine stand sentry with an assortment of vinegars and olive oils in their antique decanters, kept company by the bowl of ripe tomatoes, garlic bulbs, and red onions nestling in their midst. Then there's my grandmother's blue willow bowl, passed down to my mother, and then to me, that I love to display. And the coffee maker, which this home could never be without. The cutting boards and wine rack, an assembly of glasses that are in various stages of use, and the bottle of Red Stripe that eased me into writing mode on this lazy afternoon, all stand together in cluttered harmony.

The cast iron skillet remains on the stove, its sheer weight guaranteeing its spot in the open instead of hiding in the cupboard with the other pots and pans. The tea kettle is there, too, waiting for the moment when a lovely cup of Earl Gray demands its help in preparation. And who puts their toaster in a cupboard? Not me. It's there, right along-side the butter, waiting for breakfast each morning.

And what is a kitchen without pots of herbs? The fresh rosemary and basil I harvest from tender stalks within steps of my stove add a burst of flavor to an ordinary Italian pasta dish. The thriving greenery of those plants keeps my kitchen feeling like summer, all winter long.

So as I play some Mozart, light the candles, and make room on m cluttered counters for dinner preparation, I am content. I may not have a designer kitchen, but I can create a pleasing atmosphere to stir up some gourmet meals for my loved ones. And besides, who needs a museum vase when I have my grandmother's blue bowl?