Gentri and Julia

I want to make mayonnaise from scratch right now.  Do I particularly care for mayonnaise?  Not really but when Julia Child describes it, I want to whip some up.  

I just finished listening to "My Life in France," one that I really enjoyed (I must add though that I much more enjoyed listening in the car over reading the book.  I'm not very good at meandering reads.).

I love Julia Child.  I may not love to cook, but I love her story, her passion and her whole attitude. 
Julia was so completely enthralled with French cooking.  She was insatiably interested in everything having to do with it. Her perspective on the world was refreshing and uplifting to listen to. 

Here are a couple quotes from the book that I thought were particularly good. 

“Remember, 'No one's more important than people'! In other words, friendship is the most important thing--not career or housework, or one's fatigue--and it needs to be tended and nurtured.” 

Has there ever been a truer statement.  There is nothing more important than people.  Everything else can wait.

“I don't believe in twisting yourself into knots of excuses and explanations over the food you make. When one's hostess starts in with self-deprecations such as "Oh, I don't know how to cook...," or "Poor little me...," or "This may taste awful...," it is so dreadful to have to reassure her that everything is delicious and fine, whether it is or not. Besides, such admissions only draw attention to one's shortcomings (or self-perceived shortcomings), and make the other person think, "Yes, you're right, this really is an awful meal!" Maybe the cat has fallen into the stew, or the lettuce has frozen, or the cake has collapsed -- eh bien, tant pis! Usually one's cooking is better than one thinks it is. And if the food is truly vile, as my ersatz eggs Florentine surely were, then the cook must simply grit her teeth and bear it with a smile -- and learn from her mistakes.”

 Such good advice. 

“You never forget a beautiful thing that you have made,' [Chef Bugnard] said. 'Even after you eat it, it stays with you - always.” 

This is so completely true.  There is so much joy to be found in creating. 

“...no one is born a great cook, one learns by doing.”

If she, in her later 30s, discovered her love of French cooking, why can't I continue to discover my passions?  Being passionate about something makes me feel alive but it takes bravery to pursue. 

“This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook- try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!”