Baked in America

I just got this book from amazon.de and its measurements are in CUPS and OUNCES and GRAMS. So you can use all three if you're feeling flighty. I've only gotten recipes online and while it has served me very well (allrecipes.com, for example, will convert measurements and change the serving size if you so wish, which comes in handy for only two people), I really wanted a book. Yes, I'm one of those people who prefers books over e-readers (and while I acknowledge the practicality and environmental friendliness of the whole shebang, I am not opposed to those good old days as portrayed in Mad Men,

before cell phones, the internet, cell phones with internet, before pollution or recycling or women's equality or the dangers of smoking existed, oh those were the times).

Speaking of eras, B and I had a slightly serious conversation* (which we're not particularly talented at doing but it can happen sometimes) about which time period we'd like to live in (having grew up in that time so as not to require weaning off current technology) and we were pretty self-deprecating towards humanity. Anyway, he mentioned living in the colonies. As in, the American colonies. I laughed because I thought he was kidding and then turned it into a "harrumph" kind of sound, which, if you've heard my laugh, is no light task. I asked what he'd do in the situation of being pursued by, you know, the Native Americans, which I think made him change his mind.
"The Middle Ages, then," he said.
"The Black Death?" I asked.
"Oh, right. Well what do you think?"
"The 1950s. It was a good time in America. If you ignore the role of women. And consumerism."
"The Korean War. Cold War. Segregation."
"Okay, okay."
"But you couldn't take me with you."
"What do you mean?"
"Well suppose we go to the US. Not that I could even go to the US at that time, but also, no one really liked Germans at that time."
Silence.
"We'll just tell everyone you're Austrian," I say.
"But Hitler was Austrian."
"Yeah, but it sounds better."
"Maybe. Probably not though."
"Hmm. Okay so maybe after the 60s. But then you have some wars."
"Yes, yes you do, and I still couldn't go with you and what are you even doing in the GDR anyway?"
"Sight-seeing? But anyway I'd at least want to live after the whole 'Oh wait fellow doctors, maybe we should wash our hands every once in a while' thing."
"That is a very valid point."
"And the Enlightenment."
"True. How about 1920s Paris. Artists, writers, thinkers."
"But then we're misogynistic again."

So books, right. It was very painful to part with my books in 2008 but I did it. The pain fades but when I visit my parents I still go into my room and caress and smell my books. Don't judge.

We have a ton of cookbooks. Bastian didn't make a great decision in marrying me in the sense that I don't really like cooking. I can't even explain why. Half the time I don't enjoy eating near as much as he does. I mean, I'll do it and all. But I really like baking. I like to think that if I were in any means inclined in the sciences, I'd become a chemist. My old chemistry partner, if he ever read this, would laugh or sigh or ligh. I didn't do any of the work in high school chemistry. I stood there and talked incessantly while he took notes and conducted the experiments and told me to put 3 drops in this one or measure out 150 mL of this. I'd take home the notes and copy everything. Kind of like in the movie "Juno." I feel pretty guilty about this nowadays (and this was the only reason I passed chemistry) but I actually enjoy these kinds of things now. I mean I don't go out and read stuff about chemistry but I like measuring things and mixing them together. I like trying to figure out why the texture is like this or the taste is like this. I think back to all the ingredients and try to figure out what to do next time. This is a good thing because Bastian doesn't like baking. He'll do it and all. I'm always surprised to see that he doesn't seem 100% comfortable with baking. But if you tied one hand behind his back, threw him a couple vegetables, maybe some meat and maybe not, some spices and a stove, he'd figure something out. Me, I'd just order pizza. But I'd bake you some FANTASTIC COOKIES.

I thought about getting this book because it seems very good and has lots of delicious-sounding goods but to be honest, I was put off by the connotations of "Goddess" in the title. I get it and maybe I should prove how much I don't care about those kinds of things by ignoring it and buying it anyway, yeah! But no. Now, as in on this sunny morning of February 11, 2013, I feel put off by it. I will probably buy it another time because it does look pretty amazing. But I'm just saying.

Amazon and their tricks. Shower curtain for 13€ and with spending 20€ it's eligible for free shipping. So I look around for something around 7€ I could get. I find this book I've wanted for a while and it's 14€ and already has free shipping. So then you think, hmm, well it already has free shipping so... I could get another thing for 7€ and still save money... right?... Alas! I stood my ground. And I walked out with one more thing than I planned on getting. Not as bad as Target. I win! Right?

*Edited and shortened for clarity. Apologies for being sometimes offensive towards humanity.