I saw Julie and Julia last night. I really wanted to wait until Hubby could join me, but we couldn’t get our schedules together. I can’t wait until it is available on Netflix, what a great evening’s entertainment we have ahead of us!

Mind you, we’re no longer a young couple, but early in our marriage we spent ten years in a 900-square-foot apartment, not in New York, but just outside Los Angeles. Hubby is in publishing, an editor and an author. I’m a foodie and blogger and love reading biographies of farmers and cooks. Hubby is wonderfully supportive of me and tolerant of my “interest binges” during which I pursue my passion almost single-mindedly.

I noticed that although Julie had a postage stamp-sized kitchen (and I complain about the size of mine!) she did have the very best tools: I saw Le Creuset cookware, a Calphalon roasting pan and some serious chef’s knives. My tools are not nearly as upscale: a set of poorly cast enamel-on-cast-iron that is chipping and rusting, a Farberware stainless chef’s knife with a torn rubberized handle and two Pyrex baking dishes which are in near constant use. I have a set of stockpots by Cuisinart that also see frequent action with my large family.

Probably the biggest difference between Julia, Julie and me is our approach to food. Julia created masterpieces and honed her craft out of her love for food, eating and her husband. Julie considered cooking a creative outlet that both comforted her after a miserable day of work and worked magic on her husband whose heart was most definitely reached via the stomach. Me? I get food on the table to feed the hungry throng.

Don’t get me wrong. I love to cook. I do run rather low on confidence and prefer having tried and true recipes holding my hand through the process. But I love the way foods you’d never think would go together become a symphony in the mouth. I enjoy tasting each element and comparing it to the finished product. I love the colors, shapes and textures of food, and I do love to eat! My favorite moment of the week is seeing my childrens’ eyes rolled back, and hearing that “mmmmmm” that accompanies a particularly tasty tidbit.

I’m thinking perhaps it’s time to take the next step in my culinary education and discover the art form I’ve been ignoring.

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