I've always loved baking, but cooking dinner is not one of my favourite jobs. Tom is very understanding of this, and says he 'enjoys' making the evening meal most nights- so I feel very lucky. But I would like to get a bit more organised in the cooking department and perhaps get a new 'cookbook'- a blank one that I can fill with tried and true, quick-to-make recipes.
In NZ, I had a copy of the book 'The Cook's Garden' by Tichborne, Browne and Leach (which is excellent, but I can't find a link) that had a recipe section at the back. Naturally the recipes were ones based on garden produce, but more than that, the focus was on recipes that were so easy and quick, that it would allow the gardener more time outside- less time cooking. I loved that part of the book- and often dream of putting together my own version of a cookbook like that.
I thought a new apron might be a good incentive for getting excited about cooking again. I used the Lotta Jansdotter book's 'Reversible Apron' pattern (i made this for the first time here) using a great leaf-print fabric I found at the second-hand store. I love that fabric. It makes me think, 'early Ikea'? I'm not sure about that though.
The best thing about this pattern is its shapely style- it's lovely and not far away from a top you might wear when you weren't cooking.
Anyway- I will let you know whether it inspires a new enthusiasm for cooking dinner around here. You never know.