REDHEADS IN THE KITCHEN could be what Milton had in mind when he coined the phrase “adding fuel to the flame,” or perhaps what Shakespeare was pondering when penning “add flame to the fire.” Inviting a redhead into the kitchen certainly does add heat to the place, as well as color. I’ve always known that, though if you need confirmation, you have only to look at the online redheads in the kitchen to see what I mean.
The hands-down best redhead recently lasso-ed into aprons strings is Ree Drummond, known as Pioneer Woman, self-described “accidental country girl,” who admits to channeling Lucille Ball and Ethel Merman. (Just love her for that.) Ree has just wrapped up a large national book tour for Pioneer Woman Cooks, and thank goodness, since she’s back in the kitchen in time to answer our Super Bowl prayers for a salsa that is not chunky/runny/vinegary, but hot as, well, as redheads like it.
Another redhead out on a cookbook tour whirl is Molly Wizenberg, of Orangette, whose A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from my Kitchen Table, is a memoir writer’s cookbook, a cookbook reader’s memoir, and a combination platter that delights the senses. This book is one to take to bed, the kitchen, and back. I was tickled last weekend to discover that we had made the very same pancakes on the very same day. Nice redhead breakfast synergy.
And though she doesn’t tout it nearly loudly enough, Sara McColl, of the ever-fabulous Pink of Perfection, is a redhead. Her recent post on leek, barley and mushroom stew saved this redhead from a meltdown when, as we are all doing, I decided to use up what’s in my pantry. A noble pursuit, I know, until I unearth my many culinary impulse buys–this time, a three-pound bag of barley. Having no idea whatever what to do with it, I went to Sara’s website, and the rest, as we say, was delicious history.
By the way, many of the recipes found on these redheads’ sites would wash down well with any on the redhead drinks we ran on TSP. I ask you, what could go better with Orangette’s Chocolate Mousse than a Redhead in Bed?
If your goal is to see a redhead at work in the kitchen, get yourself to Manhattan’s East Village, and witness Meg Grace at work at The Redhead. A bar turned restaurant, the food is some of the best in the city (hint: try the fried chicken). Or, if you can’t get to NYC, but are simply pining to see a redhead in an apron, you can catch Mario Batali at any number of places. We consider him an honorary sister. It’s the clogs. We love ‘em.
Here at TSP, our resident redhead cooker is Paige, whose cookbook swap is the kind of wild idea for which redheads are famous. When she’s not swapping, she’s cooking up a regular storm in her lovely home. (Go trade yourself a cookbook.)
Interested in more? I’ve got them. Here are some other redheads who cook, a place to get cooking supplies, a chef who makes house calls, as well as my personal favorite place to buy retro tablecloths. What do they have in common? You’ll know it when you see it, and you have to see it to believe it.
Live like a redhead. Go on, you can take the heat.
- Redheads Gotta Eat
- Redhead recipes
- Musings of a Waspy Redhead
- Redhead Pantry
- The Redheaded Chef
- Retro Redheads
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Count one more redhead in the kitchen – jammin’ in the kitchen for that matter and improvising on my stack of canning recipes collected since the 70s. I started blogging about living with cancer, but this summer I decided to stop dreaming about it and launch my first food blog.
Although my hair is grayer than the dark red of my 20s, I guess that makes another redhead in the kitchen. ;)
Hi, Pat: Yippeeee, and thanks for telling us. With all these redheads cookin’ at once, the place will get good and hot. But you know that they say about not being able to stand the heat in the kitchen. And, as we know, redheads can take the heat. We are redheads for life, yes we are, so it matters little what shade you are right now. I’m certain that you live each day as a redhead. Thanks for stopping by. If you have not done so, please see the other redheads posts here. And do come back soon.