“When I grow up, I’m either going to be a witch or a Mom because I’m a girl!”.
Kate Post, age, little human
To those of you who’ve been on this train from the first station, thank you for your support and willingness to open your inbox.
To those of you who are new, welcome! Things are about to pick up around here…stay tuned and stick around.
And while I’m still going to dazzle you with my witty amalgamations of the word fuck, I’m admittedly a bit bored with myself …
So…making small adjustments.
Each week(ish), I’m going to pass the mic.
Meet Kate.
My life intersected with Kate’s almost 9 years ago which is outrageous, but true. (Incidentally this is precisely what happens in all great books…a character is introduced on page 32 who disappears only to reappear and become pivotal on page 332…every character plays a role.)
We’ve never actually met, Kate and I. And yet, we’re friends. We stand in each other’s corners - she in LA, me in Ohio.
Like me, Kate is extraordinarily ordinary - she’s a mom and daughter and friend.
Personal aside: Give me an every day human navigating this fucked up world and doing main character shit any day over Maria Shriver sharing poetry and finding her voice at age 69. I get it, Camelot isn’t real but she is a fucking Kennedy and well, that’s not the same as everyone else.
I digress…
my friend Kate is magnificently originally brilliantly normal.
And she is writing the story of her adoption and family through love and recipes. It’s beautiful and empowering and funny…and because she’s fabulous, she’s letting me share it as she writes.
"The family meal is the symbol of a civilization. It’s where we learn the art of conversation and the art of sharing." - Julia Child
Enjoy!
(this is just an excerpt … to whet your appetite…more to come soon but thought you might want to try Big Mama’s Sunday recipe with your own family.)
EATS:
An Adoption Story told through love and recipes
By Kate Post
My grandmother, “Big Mama” was a teacher, a cowgirl and to me one of
the best cooks in history. At least my own history.
My favorite was when Big Mama would make a mid-day Sunday
dinner for all of us. This usually consisted of some sort of delicious
Roast Beef, potatoes, and some sort of veg. But my favorite thing was
her appetizers that she learned to make while living in Paris. I would
literally GORGE myself on gougères.
Here’s how to make them:
1 cup water
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup of unsalted butter cut into cubes
1 cup flour
4 eggs
Dash of nutmeg
Pinch of ground black pepper
1 cup shredded gruyere cheese
1/2 cup shredded extra sharp cheddar
You can also add a dash of tabasco if you want a little heat
Heat oven to 425 and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or non-stick foil.
Combine the water, salt, butter in a saucepan until smooth and melty.
Stir in the flour—let cool for a few minutes.
Fold in the eggs, nutmeg and pepper until all combined and then mix in the cheese.
Bake for 10 minutes at 425 then lower the oven to 375 and bake for another 5 until they are puffed up and golden.
DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN WHILE BAKING
EAT
I can’t wait to share more…but please someone bake these this weekend and let me know how they turn out. (I’m no cook, but these sound like they will pair well with Master’s Sunday).
And, thank you, Kate! Keep writing your story.
-Juli