Toast

Anniversary Toast

Cheers! Today is the first anniversary of my blog, Toast.

Few projects in my life have been as entirely entertaining and rewarding. Thanks to those of you who read Toast, and those who take time to comment; you make me grateful and happy, and frankly, surprised. I truly never imagined that anyone would notice.

I'm particularly grateful to my delightful daughter, redfox of the hungry tiger, who showed me how. It was her excellent food blog that first filled me with envy (and still does). She and S., were very patient with me, explaining basic html, and many other things, while I learned just enough to carry on.

To celebrate, I have opened a bottle of dessert wine I've been hoarding, and I bought "a gift for my blog." (I approve of the practice which has developed in some quarters, where presents are purchased by the blogger, for the blog. I do not care one whit if it is excessively cute. )

First, the gift: I bought several baby rose geranium plants, which, as you can see, I am in the process of adding to my little porch-and-steps garden, among the herb plants. This purchase was inspired by Shuna's praise of these lovelies for their subtle, sweet enchancing flavors and my increasing curiosity about cooking with flowers. I am growing some other unusual (entirely legal) items in this tiny "garden", about which, more later.

And for you, my friends, a selection of 12 Toast Posts from Year I, one from each month:

May 28, 2005: Tea and Toast Part III: Toast

June 4, 2005: Potage St. Germaine with Pea Greens and Chives

July 7, 2005: The Hunt for Chinese Chews 1957

August 13, 2005: The Other Egg Salad

September 28, 2005:Green tomato finale

October 30, 2005:The Other Muffins

Novenber 25,2005: Cookie Swap:Perfectly Plain

December 19, 2005: Meyer Lemon Tea Cake.

January 24, 2006: Baby Bokchoy Braise

February 16, 2006: Praising Muhjaddarah

March 25, 2006: On Eating flowers: Walnut Cake With Roses

Aprril 10, 2006: Preserved Pears, Rabbit, and the Best Sauce

Thanks!

Introducing: Toast

Despite a lifelong obsession with food preparation, food culture, food shopping, kitchen equipment and kitchens, travel and food, food history and food literature, I am a happy amateur. I have not wished to be a chef, farmer, baker, shopkeeper, kitchen contractor, or restaurant critic. It has been my experience that many otherwise excellent activities lose a lot of their charm when they must turn a profit or provide a living. (Painting and gardening come to mind. I know that my father, a musician, felt this way about music. The rest of us enjoyed it more than he did, I'm afraid.)
So I don't envy the professionals, or yearn to quit my job and make my way tempering chocolate or raising heritage turkeys. (I wouldn't mind ditching work altogether, but I'd starve.)    I find, though, that frequent reading of food blogs has turned me unexpectedly and intensely jealous. Suddenly, in my middle age, nothing else will do. I am going to have to write about food.

I do realize that there is no crying need for another voice about food on the internet. But it really can't be helped. I'm Toast...and I'm delighted to be doing this.