My favorite explanations...

...for my prolonged absence:

I fell into quicksand.

I've given up cooking altogether.

I hate you all.

I no longer can taste food and am living in a cave.

I'm dead.

But my favorite is:

I'm still at the beach.

Oh, how I wish!



But really, it's nothing so exciting or tragic. I just got...busy. That's a lame excuse, but a valid one. After all, when someone that starts a blog called "The Unemployed Cook" starts being more and more employed, well, the blog is going to suffer.

And also I guess I needed a break. As good as it is to have an outlet, I was feeling more and more pressured to produce content for this wee site. And eventually it was easier to ignore than to put the effort into.

And so, I'm not making any sort of "I'm back" proclamations. BUT, I have been cooking like crazy, and the magazine I write for has given me permission to post my reviews once the current month has passed. I hate New Year's resolutions, but nevertheless, I'm hoping to post at least once a week. After all, I have so much to talk about.

Like Christmas...



Or pickles:



Or divine Country Cookin':



I mean, that's the very tip of a melting iceberg. Happy New Year.