Wall of Books

Wall of Books

I have a cookbook collection.  It spans the kitchen wall, from the baseboards to the crown molding.  The range of authors is somewhat varied, lingering long in French classics and American bistro:  from Ina Garten to Yotam Ottolenghi, Julia Child to Nancy Oakes. I draw inspiration from these books, but I also strictly follow recipes from these books.  I’m a rule and recipe follower, which inspires me to write all of my own recipes down so that I can make them the same way every time. {My writing and pen can be more reliable than my memory and brain, people.}

On that note, while Pinterest is fun and accessible, it’s not always reliable.  If I find a Martha Stewart recipe pinned, I know it will cook the way it’s written.  I trust the recipe testing and reputation of magazine and brand, so it’s my go-to. If I don’t know the author but find a cornbread recipe while waiting in the grocery line, there is no guarantee it’s going to work, and for me -it usually doesn’t.  I love the tried-and-true, the reliable. That’s why my goal is to write clear and simple recipes. I want to build a brand and book that is reliable. I want every recipe to show up for you the way I intended it. One thing I can’t rely on is your taste and palette.  That’s why, for example, I have included two recipes this week.  I don’t know if red wine gives you a headache, or if you only drink white in the summer.  So here are TWO reliable sangria recipes. Make one this weekend as you unwind from a very long week.  Make a jug for a neighbor and leave it at their door to spread the love.  Let me know which one you prefer (but no one said you can’t enjoy BOTH.)

Let me know, also, how you enjoy gathering recipes.  Are you a rule follower? Send me an email or use #livinglark on Instagram to let me know -- I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Go on a Lark!

Kate

realized dream

This is the story of a realized dream.  What was my website full of recipes is now a blogg-ey website WITH recipes and oh-so-much more.

Photo credit Alexa Karen

How did this dream of LARK begin?  Things began to happen a few winters ago, snow falling quietly on some nights and rain dripping and melting outside on others.  Always I sat on the grey tweed couch, fluorescent computer light and that dream keeping me awake.

Urge to write poetry materialized in what i found safest-writing out all my recipes-until one recipe became 100.  Too many to ignore, I started to visualize them in print (because I collect cookbooks and read them like novels), and realized my recipes had a theme and brand.  ON A LARK emerged-eating clean and thoughtfully during the week and going out on a lark (letting yourself splurge) a bit on the weekend.

Ultimately my final goal has already been reached.  I dreamed of writing poetry again and I am doing that.  I’ve joined a group of retired professors, local creatives-all thriving poets in what we call the salon.  I love it.

Each week (on my website, Instagram feed, Facebook) I’ll post a new recipe.  All cocktails-ALL made in a ONE GALLON size. Why? In order to throw parties you can enjoy, make a pitcher of cocktails. In my life, there's no room for mixing and measuring while the house fills up.  If you live alone and can’t drink a gallon (I don’t blame you) have a party to use it up.  Buy a nice pitcher for someone and give half to them, etc. etc.

Back to the dream-will you help it materialize?  Just because you like to grant wishes and support fun things? I'm shopping the book proposal around to agents and publishers and I need a bigger social media presence. Kind of dying over self-promotion BUT-I do have 65 drink recipes to share, and I think you will like them!  I know that I could self-publish this book, but my highest dream is to work with a publisher because I love paper and books and publishing houses. If needed I’ll self publish later down the road-but my Dad always told me to aim high.

On a Lark,

Kate