Wednesday, July 6, 2011

The Peculiar Happiness of Preserves

My friend Pinky recommended a book to me called The Peculiar Sadness of Lemon Cake, or something like that.  It was a sad little book about a girl who could taste and experience the emotions of a person in the food they prepared.  From the title, you can guess that this talent wasn't personally felicitous.

For me, it would be different story.  Lately, I've gotten on a preserving jag.  There's something so magical about turning beautiful fruit into gleaming, translucent jelly.  Then, even better, I can give this glorious, jewel-toned creation to a friend and feel really excited about it.  I made it and they can eat it: literally spread the joy on toast or whatever.

For an apartment dweller (as I am for most of the year), these few moments of feeling connected to the earth and constructive in a pioneer-like way are amazingly satisfying.  I'm insanely proud of myself, even if I use pectin instead of a candy thermometer.  Maybe I'm turning into an artisan.  That would be cool.

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