Saturday, September 26, 2009

Adieu, Cuisine Quotidienne


R.I.P.

There are two activities I am really sick of right now: cooking and laundry.

Now I never ran a blog about laundry, so that poses no online-life issues. But I did write a cooking blog for nearly four years -- and over the summer, I realized I just had to let it go.

My terse, virtually commentless farewell post on the site itself bears witness to how out of steam I am on the subject. But what I didn't say there is that the problem isn't really blogging -- although I am going through a dry spot there too -- the problem is cooking.

I will have been living in France for twenty years come next April, and as another expat friend with a similar background said to me a few months back: "Let's face it -- we've done one heck of a lot of cooking."

I've mastered the basics of French cuisine; I've thrown dinner parties that took me a day of planning and shopping followed by another day of cooking; I've prepared meal plans and shopping lists to correspond to particular recipes; I've worried too much about what my husband and family would all like to have on their plates.

Been there and done that now.

I don't know about my friend, but cooking-wise, I'm burnt out.

19 comments:

La Framéricaine said...

Please let me be the first, second, or third to congratulate you on your graduation from enthrallment to cooking, Betty C.! I'll drink to that. A worrier by nature, I had enough when I was 22 or 23 and tried to make a lamb stew for Persians! So help me gawd! In fact, I rather do dishes AND laundry than cook. 'Nough said. Happy tuna salad for awhile.

Amitiés,

deedee said...

Me too, cooking burn out, and I've only been at it for 18 years here in France. You had a 2 year head start :)

Jennifer said...

I totally understand the burn out and I don't even have a family to cook for, just husband.
Maybe it is time to master Thai or Indian or Greek or Italian cuisine to get you inspired again? Or maybe it is time to just take some time off from the kitchen! :)
I'll miss CQ, but hope you keep LFP alive. And please, do not start a laundry blog!

Betty Carlson said...

I am planning on keeping LFP alive, but am looking for some new angles. I may end up putting some food stuff in there, lol!

I am taking some time off from the kitchen in a way -- cooking the simplest and quickest of things, some of which are pretty good.

Betty Carlson said...

poppy, if you're anything like I was, you probably went into cooking in a big way as a means of fitting into the culture. In the meantime, I turned it into a pleasure and a hobby. For the moment, it's no longer that -- although I still love good food and eating well! I'll probably get the "bug" again someday.

Betty Carlson said...

La Fram -- Well, I didn't say it would be tuna salad every day! I have built up a pretty good quick repertoire...

spacedlaw said...

So you are going to stop eating too?
Where is all the fun gone?
Mind you I can understand the giving up on the blog, but cooking?

Laura in Paris said...

I's great that you feel you have mastered the basics of French cuisine. You can use your skille for that special occasion when cooking will be fun!
When things are done too intensely as you seem to have embraced French cuisine .. we burn out .. so if I may, leave your inspiration for a special day, or Sunday lunch with family, or when you feel like it.

christina said...

Ahh, yes, there comes a time when we've cooked it all, over and over again. I know exactly how you feel. A food post now and then on your other blog is a wonderful idea. I'd look forward to that. But really, no pressure. :-)

Betty Carlson said...

Just to reassure everyone, I do still love to eat, and especially to go out to eat! Thanks for all the comments, I'll get back to them in detail in a bit.

Kara said...

Seasons pass, interests fade and time moves us in new directions....push on new horizons await.
Go luck on the journey of life...I love the ride...

Just found your site...its smashing...

Linda said...

I felt that way after the kids were grown and gone but have a new friend who is a real foodie and she's taught me so much that I feel inspired again. I have to eat anyway so I might as well enjoy it. I grill a lot.

Berowne said...

As a guy who lives alone and who has family dropping in from time to time, I used to do all the work involved in meal preparation. Well, I'm pleased to report that nowadays there's good prepared takeout available, not just burgers and pizza, and some of it is not far from a medium-level gourmet standard. Not all that expensive, either. Beats cooking. :-)

By the way, greetings from another Washington State francophile!

Tinsie said...

Gosh, you've lasted a long time. I was burned out two days after I started watching my mum cooking, before I even did any myself.

It's fair to say that cooking isn't one of my favourite activities...

Betty Carlson said...

Tinsie, you've still come up with a few nice food posts if my memory serves correctly!

islandgirl4ever2 said...

Hi Betty,

I don't blame you, I am burnt out on cupcakes!! haha! I DOOO love to bake and to cook --- well, I have to cook to eat, right? But there are times when I'm tooo tired to cook and cereal works just fine for me, and Alex eats bread and cheese.. hahaha!
I have NOT even taken on the challenge of French cuisine... Soooo, hats off to you, my dear! French cuisine does not appeal to me the way Indian, Thai, Mexican and Italian cuisines do.. So, I'm void in French cooking domain.... Good thing that Alex and I both love the other cuisines I mentioned... Hehe....
Take care, Leesa

Anonymous said...

Oh, Betty, how I rejoiced to read your post! I too am sick to death of cooking, but didn't dare admit it publicly. :-) So fed up of trying to think of interesting new dishes and trying out recipes that don't work, and so tird of the drudgery of HAVING to cook twice a day. :-(

My guess is that the joy of cooking will return at some time in the future, but in the meantime let's just live out of tins. :)

Betty Carlson said...

Thanks for your comment, nodamnblog...this post seems to have struck a chord with many. Since I dropped the cooking blog and all pretense of truly cooking during the week, I have enjoyed doing some cooking over the weekend. I think that approach is what will bring the enjoyment back...

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