"It started at the grocery store, as trouble so often does. It was early winter, high citrus season, and there were some especially lovely oranges in the produce section. They were heavy, smooth-skinned, and plump...Unable to help myself, I bought a dozen. Then I lugged them home, cursing myself all the way. What is a single girl supposed to do with a dozen oranges?...There was just one answer: cake. There is no problem that cannot be solved with cake. It's the right answer to everything" (Wizenburg, 86).I have a problem with food memoirs. I love to read, and I love to eat, but the whole cooking thing gets in the way. Reading Molly Wizenburg's A Homemade Life had me drooling from the first chapter, and with her genuine excerpts of family memories intertwined with her recipes, this book was wonderful. Wizenburg's writing is truly beautiful, her language very easy to read and full of wit; I read this in just two days! There are a number of really tasty baking recipes I'd like to try out, including a toffee recipe. You should know I can't (and won't!) resist toffee at any time in the year.
Cooking is definitely not my expertise, though, and I generally muck up food unless I've tried it a few times and feel more comfortable with the process, especially since my little ones are always underfoot and I don't have much capability to watch the project to fruition. My way of going about things in the kitchen is the fly by the seat of your pants! However, as far as reading goes, this really deserves 4 out of 5 stars. Truly a lovely tale of one woman's life: her sorrows and joys meeting at the table.
Don't worry, Lincolnites, I also made sure the library ordered a copy of this, too, CLick Here!
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