Awakening from a long sleep

We've been renovating the kitchen.  Took down a wall so that the space is larger, with a large generous island that I can use easily to roll out steamed buns.  Or even hold a suckling pig one day.  :). Put in skylights so there is light, real light, without needing lights all hours of the day.  Moved to cooktop to the island so I'm not stuck at the back wall.  I can see space, light when I cook.  At least, I will. 

Cherry wood cabinets.  Because they are rich and beautiful.  Black granite, which can take heat and cold without staining.  White oak floors, to match the rest of the house.  And stainless appliances.  Wolf.  Sub-Zero.  Miele.  Gas cooktop with five burners so I can use a wok and still fit other pans.  18,000 BTUs.  French door refrigerator so a sheet pan will fit.  Double ovens.  A dishwasher to handle fine glassware.

I got a professional to pack the kitchen because of the way the timing worked out.  I had them back to suggest placements for everything.  It was fun to open every cabinet when I got home, to see their post-its everywhere.  Like a little Christmas. 

Two, three months without being able to cook is hard.  At the height of summer, tomato season, it is cruel.

And yet, I planned it this way, to not have a kitchen when I thought I could grill.  But is there good time to have no kitchen?

The granite cutting, I guess, resulted in a fine dust over everything, which I didn't expect.  Otherwise, the renovation has been so so clean.  As a result, I haven't tried cooking, not even turning on the cooktop yet.  

People have started asking what I'm going to cook for my first meal.  Assuming I don't burn it! Assuming I can find my pans!

My blog feed is rich with jams of ripe summer fruit, house-churned ice cream, tomato sandwiches.  

What calls to me?  Something simple, fresh from the farmers market, where restraint is itself an ingredient.  

And then, perhaps a long-simmered sauce. Rich and decadent.  

We should still catch a month of the bounty.  Pickles, tomatoes, jam. And maybe some ice cream.

I will make more desserts.  Maybe I will even bake.