I spend a fair amount on time with my nose in a book, and recently I’ve been taking in the wisdom of Edward Espe Brown’s Tassajara Cooking. Here’s something I’ve learned this week about keeping my kitchen in order (excerpt from the book):
“Cooking makes cleaning possible, cleaning makes cooking possible. It’s all the same when we are good friends with ourselves and with the world around us. To help us be good friends with ourselves and with others, with rice and cabbages, with pots and pans, we may need some rules:
Clean as you go.
Being good friends with the knives, clean and replace them in the knife rack after use.
Being good friends with the sponge, rinse and wring it out; with the towels, fold and hang them up, and wash when dirty, or before.
Being good friends with the counter, wipe it after use, and scrub sometimes; with the floor, sweep and mop. Get into the corners, and when you’re done, stand the broom on end or hang it on a hook. After cleaning a greasy floor, sprinkle some salt where it’s still slippery.
Being good friends with the dish sponge, don’t use it on the floor. Use the dish towel for dishes, and have another for face and hands.
Being good friends with the scraps and trimmings, make some stock.
Clean the sinks! Clear the drains!
Be friends with your friends.”
This book would make a great gift for someone looking for purpose in their cooking or in their life.
December 6th, 2007 at 6:02 am
This is profoundly useful. Thanks.