Friday, August 20, 2010

An HONEST to goodness COTTAGE kitchen


Don't you love that timer? Those numbers are large enough to read no matter what your vision challenges are and when it rings it sounds just like an old dial up telephone!



Not much has changed in our cozy cottage kitchen over the last 23 years. And that's a good thing! I've brightened the walls with an aptly named Kayak Yellow paint, changed the window coverings from dated slate blue cafe' curtains with ruffles, to something a little more SEA worthy. Recently I stripped off the old bright blue contact paper ( CIRCA 1970 something ) that covered the warn out, marked up  AGED TO PERFECTION wooden counter tops along with the character and memories of  previous cottage dwellers. Now, glass stains cuts and dings shine through!


Walla! No more icky, sticky contact paper!
It was during our most recent stay that I casually mentioned to our daughter how much I love cooking in our cottage kitchen. With out hesitation she replied, "that's because it's an HONEST kitchen mom, you know, it's humble ".  I thought, she's right! It's a bare bones kitchen.


We manage to make the most of  the fact that we have no running hot water, microwave or electric coffee pot. You won't find an electric mixer or can opener either. With it's 1950's Hoosier cabinet, four burner gas stove, hand- held cheese grater, egg beater and bottle opener we do quite well.  A tea kettle which does double duty heats water for doing dishes once a day in the old farmhouse sink and again at bed-time for washing- up cottage style!



Nope, I don't think Coastal Living will be knocking down our door anytime soon for a glossy magazine spread on how we live the " modern  cottage lifestyle ".  


Our frig is half the size of our roomy side by side at home yet we manage to create some tasty, good for you too meals with only the bare essentials on hand.

These cute dishes were a  thank you gift from my cousin and her hubby after they joined us for Memorial Weekend a few years back and these vintage melmac/melamine dishes have been in this cottage as long as we have.  



Storage is at a minimum, with one set of open shelves for dishes and another for dry goods.


( How bout that mix of organic and not- so organic food on my shelves? )  With two hungry teens and two er...uh... middle aged adults in the house I'm just more mindful of what I'm putting on the table these days. 
I'm adding more fresh fruits and veggies to our diet and choosing organically produced food more often too!






I've found it's much easier to make slow changes than to toss your old UN- healthy ways overboard all at once! Call me a late bloomer with the whole organic idea...I've always "gotten it " and I've made several half - hearted efforts at it over the years. Maybe it's just a combination of a new phase of life and more time on my hands but this time around I'm having more fun experimenting with new recipes and products since I discovered Mary Jane's Farm, the everyday Organic life-style magazine. She just makes it so EASY! 


I arrived at the cottage prepared to try some new healthy and wholesome recipe's for my family.



I was feeling very inspired armed with my new Budget Mix and the FARM KITCHEN special recipe issue! I won't keep you in suspense any longer...

From the Farm Kitchen Special Recipe Issue book I made the Strawberry Scones but substituted with some plump and juicy blueberries I had on hand. YUMMY.


Do you see what I see? Someone stole a blueberry right off the tip of a scone!
 Now how am I supposed to look like a professional magazine stylist if I'm missing a blueberry?

 I couldn't resist trying this simple cheesy oven baked Pan Bread topped with some spicy pepperoni!



1 Farm Kitchen issue of Mary Jane's Farm magazine

1 Box Organic Budget Mix, Unbleached White

1 Box Chill Over Powder

1 Farmhouse Organic Red Pesto Pasta

1 Outpost Organic Kettle Chili
 
It's worth every budget minded penny you'll spend and the recipe book will have you jumping into your fall cooking early!

Do you like a good  INSPIRING story? Read about Mary Jane's Historic Flower Mill.  

You'll just feel better! I promise!
Deborah Jean

Happy and Healthy cooking to you from
 An HONEST to goodness COTTAGE kitchen 


Do you have an HONEST cottage KITCHEN? I'd love to see it!
Link to this post or send me a photo!



10 comments:

Hill Country Hippie said...

Oh my goodness, I love your blog! I was thinking about blogging about Mary Jane's farmgirl sisterhood this week, and somehow my research lead me to you. It only took a few seconds to recognize a kindred spirit. Can't wait to come back and spend some more time here!

Yolanda said...

Your kitchen is so comfy looking! I do have hot running water in mine, but my kitchen is small and humble. I love your blog, by the way.

Anonymous said...

Deb,

Love it! The scones look delicious. Wish I could just pop in & join you for one or two. :-) Happy evening!

Meg

16 Sassy Street said...

Deb, thanks sooooo much!! It has taken me a little extra time to sit down and get started with the "award criteria." My son moved in to his dorm yesterday, (sniff, sniff) and it has been a CRAZY week! I can't wait to see what FUN begins with meeting new blog friends thru the Versatile Blogger Award! Hope you have a WONDERFUL Sunday!

16 Sassy Street said...

Oh, by the way . . . I'm walking to my kitchen NOW to make some blueberry scones! YUMOLA!!!! Mouth-watering photo...and the pizza >:-)

Anonymous said...

LOVED IT...felt like I was right there with you! Maybe next year I might be?!
Love, Nan

Sharon Lovejoy said...

Hello dear Deb (and Nicolette),

I was photographing our funky little kitchen JUST as your blog posting came in. So, I linked to you and finished my posting. Great minds?

I love everything!

XXOO Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

Julia said...

Love it!!! My kitchen is becoming more bare bones as I go. Just gave my mom my microwave, have an areopress for a coffee maker, and long to get rid of my dishwasher, which would give me cupboard space. Your post has encouraged me to keep bare boning it!

Love too MJ's budget mix and the chillover powder.I love making bakeovers!!! Good stuff!

Your posts always make me smile!

16 Sassy Street said...

Hey Deb, I must be totally lost, but I can't find the link you were talking about - Lady Violet? Is that your hand-painted furniture site? Can you help me out? I am anxious to see your painted pieces that you said would coordinate with my purple chair (ex-purple cahir, hee hee)

Thanks! :D

About Me... said...

Your kitchen is just DARling!! Love the new colors. Made me want to step right into the photos. shery j

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