In The Mood For Cooking

Except I don't. My little open plan kitchen doesn't inspire me to cook, or maybe it's the cooking for one, or maybe - highly likely - it's my laziness. Laziness coupled with too many cheap eat options living in the inner city. This week has been Chinese, Vietnamese, pasta, cocktails, Thai.

But last night I got in bed with Damien Pignolet's french, my Christmas present from A. It's a beautiful cookbook, with unpretentious photos and intimidating recipes. I set out to mentally plan a three course dinner for us à la 'thank you for the book, look I've put it to good use'. Couldn't find anything that I could whip up on a Saturday afternoon without a sweat and an anxiety attack, so I went to sleep annoyed (and let down at myself - I used to relish cooking).

Now I am at Chocolate & Zucchini, lusting after her Carbonades Flamandes, and feel inspired again. Perhaps Damien's duck liver parfait, and I'm not too shabby with a souffle (the Valrohna chocolate one looks sexy), so my faith is restored.