I haven't lost my touch

Back in the day, when Theo and I ran a stand at the Blyth Farmers' Market in the early 2000s, I would bake dozens of these biscuits every weekend from May long weekend until Thanksgiving. I can't even count as high as the number of these tasty things that I pumped out of my Tiny Farm Blyth (emphasis on tiny) kitchen. I had that recipe memorized and could make it my sleep - in fact I think that many mornings I was still sleeping when I made them.

For the past two years I have had lots of other hands making things in 'my' kitchen. I miss the days of baking, cooking and canning, so this afternoon I had the energy (and lack of nerve pain) to take part in supper prep. These are the result. Not bad considering that I made a single batch but doubled the yogurt and had to go back to the lazy susan for more ingredients. So much for my memory.

It likely took twice the time it used to, I suppose as I practice more I will get faster. Although I have more core strength than I did two years ago [came home two years ago this weekend] I don't have enough to work with both arms in front of me. One arm (usually my left) is needed to keep me from falling forward into what ever I have in front of me (picture my: laptop, plate of food, cutting board, mixing bowl) cutting up meat on my plate is quite a workout. My body is so off balance that my muscles and spine often protest.

The other consideration is safety. I also do not possess the core strength required to reach into the oven and pull out something hot, and one arm is not strong enough (unless they were meringues). Burns are highly likely and quite dangerous considering the fact that I may not even feel that I had one. So I get my helpers involved - but of course they are not always around.

This leads me to our new house. I have plans for a wall oven with a door that swings to the side which should make getting hot stuff out a bit easier (and safer). We will also have a cooktop that is lower than that of a regular stove so I will be able to see in the pot rather than having to lower the pot to look inside (or use a mirror that fogs up).

Now if only the kitchen fairies would come and clean up the mess I made...wait a minute, isn't that why we had kids?