A Less Than Grand Unveiling

Well, it's official: I've eaten my words. I've thrown in the [kitchen] towel. After stating time and time again that blogging had become much too trite to do it myself, I have nevertheless joined that numberless band of bloggers who try to live up to their self-proclaimed foodie statuses by using fancy adjectives and expensive cameras to capture their attempted strokes of culinary genius for all of cyberspace to see.

So what was it that finally pushed me over the edge? Maybe it was the peer pressure (you know who you are!). Or perhaps I have aspirations to make the highly coveted Top 50 Best Food Blogs list next year, or strike a killer book deal à la Julie Powell. But really, more than anything, I thought it could be fun. In the past few years, I've made leaps and bounds with my cooking and baking (I'd prefer to not discuss some of my "creations" out of that tiny L.A. studio apartment, so don't ask). Without trying to sound overdramatic (it's not something that comes easy for me), my time in the kitchen has not only pulled me out of some of the toughest and most stressful of times, but it's also provided a place where I can be just plain happy. On top of that, I have become, well, a bit obsessed with all things food-related, and sometimes I just want to share what I've created, the mistakes I've made, the brilliance I've stumbled upon, or the delights I've tasted. Now you, dear readers, can be a part of the magic.

But, before we go any further (and in the spirit of full disclosure), I feel it's my duty as ye blogger to expound on what is and isn't going to happen here on this blog. I cannot promise to: change your world, create mind-blowing or earth-shattering recipes, post anything but sub-par quality photographs, sugar-coat my opinions, abstain from the use of clichés, or be any sort of bona fide culinary authority. I do, however, hope to: inspire you to spend more time in the kitchen, help you to fully appreciate the joys of cooking (and eating), make you laugh, elicit salivating responses, charm you with my enthusiasm, and dazzle you with my words.

And so, without further ado........ Welcome to clatter from the kitchen!

[This is where I would typically write my trademark sign-off...but I haven't come up with it yet.]