Julia Child

Today would have been Julia Child's 101st birthday. This icon of the American kitchen has provided such inspiration for me. As a child, before anything such as the Food Network or Cooking Channel, I would anxiously await the point in the local PBS pledge drive when they would have the block of cooking programs. While I didn't know it at the time, watching Julia (and Jacques Pepin) for a 3-4 hour block was helping to kindle my fascination with food and cooking. As an adult, understanding that Julia didn't really formally begin her career until she was in her 40's is also a great lesson that it is never, ever too late to start something that you're passionate about. For so many American home cooks, she made cooking less intimidating and scary. 

The Texas Girl Kitchen embraces so many of her philosophies on what and how people should cook. So, in honor of her 101st birthday, a few of my most favorite quotes:

• “You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces — just good food from fresh ingredients.”
• "Learn how to cook -- try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless and above all have fun."
• "Always remember: If you're alone in the kitchen and you drop the lamb, you can always just pick it up. Who's going to know?"
• "The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking, you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude."
• "Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.
• "I think every woman should have a blowtorch."

and, finally, "If you're afraid of butter, use cream."

To honor Julia, get in the kitchen today and cook something - anything - just cook!

Happy Cooking!

sld

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