talking

My name is Janelle, and I am responsible for writing this blog. There—I have said it. I am committed to going onto the world wide web with all of my random enthusiasm for this too-good-to-be-true recipe, the many virtues of olive oil, the next best cocktail and that oh-so-weird looking vegetable. No more closet foodie, no more playing with food alone: I have officially invited you into my kitchen.

You could say I am a practical foodie: always looking for ways to infuse my kitchen with time-saving tricks, make-ahead menus and keeping myself inspired to cook palate worthy food on a daily basis. My blog isn’t necessarily about the French bakery I went to for a croissant, but more about my daily food experience at home. It is about making food work for you, and perhaps like me, you are trying to fit your foodie self into the nooks and crannies of life. This isn’t a food tour through the great tables of Europe, but about people like us making the journey in our own kitchens count.

I may occasionally write about a restaurant visit that inspired a quick new appetizer or drink. I adore eating out, and my happiness expands when I bring restaurant inspired dishes to my kitchen table. But my adoration of food includes a nod toward time, with an understanding that we often have too little of it in our kitchen and otherwise. Though a nod is not a bow, and I reserve the right to include that occasional long version of eggplant tomato feta gratin or sausage lasagna that you MUST try because life just wouldn’t be life otherwise.

This blog will be chock-full of ideas for weekday meals, dinner parties and unexpected guests, recipes ideal for cooking with kids, ideas for gifts from your kitchen and tools & tips to keep your kitchen inspired. I hope you find talkoftomatoes a helpful resource for easy, fabulous recipes, party friendly fare, loosely held kitchen inspiration and ideally a passing chuckle.