The last time I was this excited over something it was covered in gravy.
Here's your first glimpse of me in my new kitchen.
The October issue of Canadian Living magazine is on stands now! And if it's not where you are in Canada it will be in the next day or two. I know. It's September. Early September at that. But that's the way magazine work and since it gives us all a chance to see my kitchen in print a month earlier than I thought I'm O.K. with it.
And yes. That is my dear little Cuddles sharing the spotlight with me. When Cuddles came close to dying a few weeks ago I thought … I won't even be able to open the magazine. It would be too much to bear. But that little Cuddles made it through her mystery illness and lived to see her magazine debut.
To recap:
In March of 2013 I decided to rip up my horrific kitchen floor and install VCT tiles. Black and white check. While the floor was up, I decided it would be stupid not to install heated floors while I was at it. With such a good lookin' floor I was suddenly embarrassed about my sink. Why had I never noticed the horror that was my sink? I should get a new sink. That one from Ikea with the apron front.
Only the sink didn't fit because my counters weren't deep enough. I could maybe get new counters to accommodate the new sink so as not to embarrass my floors. Floors are very sensitive that way. Everyone knows that.
Cut to a year later, my entire kitchen is ripped out, a new ceiling is going in, cupboards are being hoisted over fences, the fella has left and I'm pooping in a bucket.
WTF?
How did THIS happen?
I'll tell you how it happened. I'm like you, you're like me, we're all nuts. And that's O.K. That's how it goes in this world and the people who aren't nuts are boring.
I lived through a kitchen renovation and even though people told me I was going to forget all about how gross it was once I had my new kitchen I didn't believe them. In fact I pretty much silently cursed those people until I started cursing them out loud. With big, new curse words that only a kitchen renovation can pull out of you. But they were right. I don't remember any of the pain and every time I walk into my kitchen I still gasp and sigh and smile. Then I cook something and leave the dishes to clean up in a week or so.
When I realized this tiny little kitchen update was actually going to turn into a full blown renovation I emailed someone I knew at Canadian Living. Brett Walther was someone who I worked with when a different magazine shot my house a few years ago. I told him what I was doing and asked if he'd be interested in featuring it in the magazine.
He said yes. I said good. He told me I couldn't show my kitchen until it was released in the magazine, I said bad. But agreed, because I could understand his point. Canadian Living wanted the big reveal to be in their magazine. Who could blame them. The only problem was I couldn't take any pictures, or do any posts or videos that revealed my kitchen for a year. A YEAR.
That year is up. I still can't show you my kitchen but I CAN soon because the Canadian Living article is out now.
Stephanie Hobson
Your first sentence had me going for a minute there. lol As to gravy, yes I do like it. My mom's gravy was great, but she was one of those cooks who never measures anything. It took me years to figure out how to make decent gravy. Guess how?
I read it in a cookbook! Who woulda thought?
Khadija
LOL! I love gravy. Grew up eating it on sliced bread as a kid. Yum.
Congratulations on the spread. I would love to see this magazine.
Tracie
I love gravy, love it. I make pretty great gravy, too. I have a friend who makes ham gravy, and I have to admit, I never thought of making gravy out of ham before. It's pretty tasty. Anyway. What a great cover! You and Cuddles are looking quite glamorous... Astonishing how many changes have come your way in this past year....Some of it couldn't have been easy, but I want to thank you for carrying on with your posts. For continuing to inspire us, so maybe we start to believe we can do stuff too. :)
Edith
Hi Karen,
I'm so darn happy for you! It's been a challenging year and a half for you but you all got through it...healthy and "in style". Your kitchen looks beautiful and so do you two chicks on the cover!
Roast without gravy is like Karen without Cuddles.
Karen
Thanks Edith! :) And that actually made me guffah! ~ karen
SeaDee
Love the kitchen (from what I can see), and your hair, dress, Cuddles and gra-vy!
See what I did there? I'm hanging in Phoenix. The heat has melted my brain.
Lea G
I love gravy and your new kitchen, it must be a great feeling to know that YOU did it all!! So glad to know that Cuddles is doing well and your dress is awesome!! Congratulations on the magazine cover!! :) I enjoy your blog and writing style..... just plain fun, thanks.
meagan molenda
My husband's sister invented the term "alcogravyhol" after we had the best gravy ever one Thanksgiving. The gravy had alcohol in it, of course. It's been served every Thanksgiving since. :)
Cynna
Love gravy--especially with mushrooms, but never that chemical mystery junk from a can. Ever. Very cute dress, which nicely complements Cuddles' caramel colored coat. I would love to see the kitchen--the entire kitchen. Nice press!
Michelle
I do like gravy, but Thanksgiving is really the only time I have it. Mostly because I'm trying to drastically reduce the stuff I put the gravy on, from my diet. I can't wait to see the rest of your kitchen, and I'm so happy to hear that Cuddles is better, I've been cheering from afar! And love your dress btw!
Cynthia
Your long slender swan-like neck rocks the large high collared style of your dress. Love the simple classic print of it as well. I can't see your shoes.
Did you shave your legs 'n all?
I agree Cuddles would rock a set of pearls.
I want your sink. I have where you got it from bookmarked. I have always wanted a butler sink and this is the closest I have seen.
Is there any link to photos of your bathroom? Or is that next year's project?
Linda S. in NE
That's a cute idea in the comment above about having you and Cuddles autograph the winning magazine copies. Of course only if you can find a non-toxic paint or ink for Cuddles to stamp with. Lord knows the poor girl has had enough trauma lately. And that magazine, Oh.My.Goodness.Gracious. What a knock-out you two are!! I knew about the upcoming magazine feature, but did not know you scored a cover as well! Kudo's to you, Karen. So Cute! And gravy? Meh. Sometimes yes please, and sometimes no thank you. I guess I really like the taste of the mashed potatoes and roast beef on their own.
Jcorn
Love gravy. Gravy is the new bacon.
Rosey
Ooo! Ooo! I hope I win!
I do like gravy. I knew a friend who when he was a child, crawled to the kitchen, reached out and sighed, "graaavy!" As an adult he was grossly obese. I hope it wasn't the gravy that did him in.
Kalani Allred
Gravy is groovy, but butter is better. And you & Cuddles look absolutely smashing sitting there all proper-like in your new kitchen! Can't wait to see it all (the kitchen, that is...). Send one of your magazines to me in California and I will be your biggest fan forever! Seriously, you are amazing and I love your blog. Seriously. :-)
Karen
Thanks Kalani! ~ karen
Laurinda
You look fab, Cuddles looks cuddly, & your kitchen looks great!
Growing up, my mother, a horrible cook, used to make terrible gravy. She would sometimes make something she called "Cream, Peas & Tuna Fish", which was peas & tuna mixed in to a delicious white gravy. So I grew up hating gravy & never learning to make it! But I love white gravy & I still get cravings for that gross sounding Cream, Peas & Tuna. On toast.
Amber
Karen, you have turned into the Canadian-Jenna-from-30-Rock. And they had a Canadian!! In season 4!!! Gravy??? I'm going to send you pictures of brussel spouts. In gravy.
Mwahaha...
(I just want pics of the new kitchen)
(love to Cuddles)
Karen
I am?! How did I become her? I don't remember becoming her at ALL! I'm probably drunk. And I remember the Canadian from 30 Rock! :) ~ karen
Pati Gulat
At the 1969 Texas International Pop Festival Wavy Gravy was lying onstage, exhausted, when it was announced that B.B. King was going to play. He began to get up; a hand appeared on his shoulder. It was B.B. King, who asked, "Are you Wavy Gravy?" to which he replied "Yes." "It's OK; I can work around you," said B.B. King, and he and Johnny Winter proceeded to jam for hours after that. He said he considered this a mystical event, and assumed Wavy Gravy as his legal name.
And there's my Gravy story... ;)
Pati Gulat
OH ! And I want a magazine ! :)
Laura Bee
Awesome~love him. I once served a lady named Wavy April at a restaurant I worked at. Called her Ms Wavy - but no, that was her first name.
Jen Renda
Okay, what gravy are we talking about here?
Red Gravy is a thick tomato sauce that my in-laws use on some pasta dishes but not all. I am still new enough to the family to be forgiven for the transgression of mixing up the two. I think the gravy is what one cooks home-made meatballs in.
I grew up stirring the brown gravy that magically appeared from the powder growing up. Dad would add drippings into it to add additional flavor. (Oh my, I hope that was not a family secret that was suppose to be passed down. However I refuse to reveal the specific brand of said magical pack of goodness!) For some reason, even my Nana made gravy this well. Mind you she was a trained cook. (Her terms not mine, but she was from Norway and may be they had another level of between cook and chef in Norwegian.) I would stir and stir to ensure that the lumps were gone. Anyway, if the dripping where not added to, we would toss the gravy in the slow cooker with a roast to cook till tender. (Great, it's 1AM and I wanna make a pot roast!)
Then there is White gravy that when I am in the South, I eat on chicken-friend steak. Not to be confused with the white sausage gravy I eat on my biscuits. I found a packet of powder once in my Northeastern Supermarket. But something was off about this. I think because I associate that gravy so close with travel that making it in my kitchen (which oddly enough, was my Nana's kitchen) felt wrong.
Those are the gravies of my life.
I love your dress, and your chickens, and prayed very hard for a chicken I have never met this pass week. How are the chicks doing? Have we found out the genders yet?
Karen
Thanks Jen! You're very well versed in your gravies. I like that. I'm pretty sure I have 3 roosters and one hen on my hands. :( ~ karen!
Kim from Washington state
I used to hate gravy growing up, something about the way it ran across my plate and touched my other food.. I know, I had issues. But these days I love it, the more gravy the better ( obviously cured those issues). And to mention cuddles, all I can picture is her holding a little sign that says "eat more beef!" Can't wait to see the full kitchen remodel, feel free to come down to the states and help me with mine!!
Jeanette
no-one has mentioned my idea of heaven - roast beef with gravy! Yorkshire pudding with roast beef gravy!
my gravy story - did you know that in Yorkshire, the puddings are served *before* the meat course, with the gravy? An old "peasant" trick used in many countries to fill you up, thus using less of the much more costly meat portion of the meal.
And should my name surface in your draw, please give my magazine to #11, because I live in Canada and get a copy no problem, and get it most months. Their recipes are wonderful, and if you are ever looking for a gingerbread house story, I've got one!