just a little bit

little red Le Creuset, originally uploaded by shaunaforce.

Well, I finally did it. I bought a Le Creuset.

No, not that one. Not “>the one I covet. And I do mean covet. Sometimes I go to kitchen stores and stand in front of the Le Creuset dutch ovens, the large ones, in flame red or kiwi green, and I just dream. Let’s be honest, I lust. After a dutch oven. (Something needs to change here.) But at $230 each, it just isn’t going to happen any time soon on this teacher’s salary. But yesterday, at Larry’s Market, while I waited for the #2 bus up the hill, I bought this: a petite cocotte, small enough to fit into the palm of my hand. (I know it looks bigger in the photograph, but that’s the point, isn’t it?)What on earth is that good for, Shauna–you may be asking. Well, it’s adorable. It looks luscious on my metal kitchen shelves, by the window, next to the smoked pimenton. Give me a break, I have a broken foot. I deserve it.

Do I send a tad defensive? Well, maybe. You see, I was having a hard time justifying spending just under twenty dollars for a baby-doll Le Creuset. But then, I read Rachael’s marvelous post on roasting garlic, and I no longer felt sheepish for my purchase. Instead, I cooked with it, immediately. I made a tiny pot of roasted garlic in my Le Creuset, and the kitchen filled with the scrumptious, nutty aroma. Soon, I’m going to make mashed potatoes with roasted garlic, buttermilk, and smoked cheddar. Ah.

But not yet. I’m going to be away from the blog for a few days. Why? Shhhhh. It’s a secret. You’ll find out why, soon. On Sunday, I’ll be back with stories, and more recipes.

However, before I go, I have to acknowledge something I just realized when I started writing here: this is my 100^th post on Gluten-free Girl. 100 essays, in only a few months. And even though there are archives here from May and June, I didn’t really discover the blog as I know it until early July. This means that I have written over 40,000 words in only four months. I can’t tell you how proud this makes me. But far more important to me than goal and accomplishment is how many of you I have been able to meet by starting this small endeavor, my fingers clicking on the keyboard, or pressing down on the button on the top of the camera. I’ve discovered an entire world in only four months, welcomed you into my life with open arms. I can’t even imagine what it will be like a year from now. This blog? This is where I feel most alive. Being able to share my joy with you, take photographs for you, and write out my beating heart for you–it’s an incredible honor, an ineffable joy. Thank you for reading. I can’t thank you enough.

So I’ll leave you, for this moment, with only this: a simple piece of rockfish, dusted in gluten-free flour, sauteed in butter, with rosemary and chives pressed onto the top. This is what I had for dinner last night. It wasn’t complicated, or sophisticated, and I can’t even write out a recipe. But it tasted like home, like life opening, like discovery and joy.

Sometimes, all it takes is a little bit to make me happy.