Monday, March 16, 2009

Look what the postman brought



A pleasant surprise awaited me when I went to the letterbox today: the latest issue of Delicious magazine. I wasn't expecting any of my food magazine subscriptions to arrive until next week but I'm definitely not going to complain about an early arrival.

I find nothing more relaxing and inspiring than flicking through the latest issue of a food magazine, particularly if the seasons are turning. These glossy magazines are called food porn for a reason and nothing must disturb my hit. The phone is off, the children are asleep, the house is quiet, my cafe latte is hot and fresh from the coffee machine ... and so I can sit and plan new menus for hours.

I read food magazines as if they're novels, carefully reading each recipe and its ingredients, noting whether I've got everything in the cupboard or need to add items to the shopping list. As I read, I run through the recipe steps in my head and decide whether the recipe is going to be a cinch to pull together or whether it will require time and effort. Some recipes are put into the "easy weeknight meal" category, while others are put aside for special occasions or for when I feel like baking on a rainy day.

So autumn is here and fresh salads and cold desserts are giving way to steaming bowls of soup or stew and luscious hot puddings. Much as I love warm weather, I don't find summer an inspiring season for cooking or baking. All I feel like eating in summer is a crisp salad, thrown together with a minimum of fuss, or a juicy peach or fresh raspberries for dessert. The cooler weather is so much more conducive to spending time in the kitchen. And there's plenty of dishes from the latest Delicious magazine that are already on my list to try, including a gorgeous-looking hot cross tea cake, a warm mushroom tart and blue cheese and pecan scones. I can't wait to get back into the kitchen.

5 comments:

Red Dirt Mummy said...

I know exactly how you feel! I love when the food magazines arrive in the letterbox - I devour them in one sitting, following a similar path to yours, then go back and re-read articles and recipes, planning and plotting, sticking post-it flags on pages I want to look at yet again and flatly refusing to let the kids near it!

Dianne said...

I, too, love the day that Delicious arrives. I savor it especially because I live in the US and some dear Australian friends sent me a gift subscription -- truly the perfect present! I pore over the magazine and am so grateful to receive it all the way over here on the other side of the world.

Deeba PAB said...

Oh yes that does look delicious. I too read food magazines like novels too, and am constantly amazed at how much more one can do with food. I'm here to thank you for co-hosting super challenge for the DBs this month. I enjoyed it immnsely. Thank you, Deeba

Melinda said...

Great minds think alike, Red Dirt Mummy! My post-it flags get a good workout as well when a new magazine arrives.

What lovely friends you have, Dianne! I think food magazine subscriptions make great gifts. Do you find much difference between Australian and American food magazines? Are you able to get all the ingredients used in Delicious?

You're very welcome, Deeba. Every month there is something new to make and I love reading recipes from the talented chefs and cooks who continually come up with new pairings of ingredients.

Dianne said...

I just posted a lengthy reply to your comment on my blog re: American and Australian food magazines but suffice it to say...the main difference I find is that Delicious is much more honest, inspiring and useful than a lot of American food magazines, which seem much more interested in trends.

You're right, they are lovely friends! That was the most perfect gift they could have given me.

As for the ingredients, I am able to find most of them, though sometimes things get lost in "translation." I find myself emailing my friends every so often to ask what certain ingredients are -- i.e., capsicum, eschalot. And thank goodness for Google's weights and measures converter!