Pantry inspiration: Amy James kitchen tour.

I have a confession to share.

The Kitchen Tour series on this blog originates from purely selfish reasons.  You see, kitchens are kinda’ my thing.  I don’t know when it started but I do know why they are my thing.  It is the place where memories are made, experiments occur, friends and family linger, and the stuff. Oh, the beautiful stuff.  Stuff in the form of gadgets, pots, pans, ball of twine, pantry essentials and pantry indulgences. Floor plans and traffic paths in kitchens reveal so much.  It is fun to hear stories when friends recount how they painstakingly laid out their cabinets to get it just right.  It is equally as fun to linger at the counter as friends and family talk about the kitchen quirks they inherited from previous owners.

You know the saying, “if these walls could only talk?”

I think a more appropriate saying is, “if these kitchen counters could only talk.” 

What would yours say?

You know our friend Amy James from oureverydaydinners? I visited her recently and as we caught up leaning on the kitchen counter and eating homemade Greek frozen yogurt with her kids and their friends. I took everything in.  She even indulged me by letting me peek into her cupboards. And fridge.  And cabinets.  I am not even ashamed of any of it.

This I do know.

I know what her kitchen counters would say if they could talk.

“Guuurrrl… I’ve seen it.  She cooks what she wants to eat and keeps it healthy.”

“MmmHmmm, They really do eat at 6pm every night.”

“Say whhaaa?  Did you see what she put on that table?  Seriously, snacks?  Where are the donuts?”

“Let me tell you somethin’, that girl really knows how to edit.”

Here is the gist of the matter.  If you are like me, I browse blogs and hope for a glimpse into a blogger’s real life. A snapshot that has more in the picture than just a beautiful bowl and a tantalizing dish.  I wonder about all the meals they cook that didn’t make it to the blog post (ever wonder why I don’t post every day?).  I wonder if their about page is inspiration or aspiration.

Amy’s about page is dead on.  The professional photograph with her kids blurred in the background as she stands, serenely, with a cool-mom smile on her face, is real.  I experienced it myself during our visit.  She really did self-teach herself how to cook and she is a natural.  She really doesn’t cater to her kid’s whining (her words, not mine).  Her kitchen is neat, tidy, and perfectly cozy.

Yet.

I was surprised that she only has a few cooking pots and pans. And her cooking utensil drawers were slim.

“What do you really need?”  She said in a matter-of-fact-duh shrug.

Well, actually… not much.  I can also personally attest that an uncluttered, edited cabinet is beneficial.  When you leave out only what you need or stock what you need, I guarantee that working your way around the kitchen is smoother and clean up will be easier.

If this is your first introduction to Amy’s blog, you will be adding it to your list of favorites in no time.  She makes dinner for her family, cleans it up, and blogs about it just about every day.  Her recipes are always quick and healthy and just the thing you need when you are thinking, “what’s for dinner?”

Want to see more of Amy beyond her blog?  This Saturday, October 26, Amy is sharing a recipe via a video shoot from her kitchen on the P.Allen Smith show called Garden Style, Living Large at 11am.  Click here to find out where it is showing in Fayetteville or in your area.

Enjoy the tour!

Eat well, my friends. Eat well.

Lyndi