Where’s the Boeuf?

Did everyone who saw the movie “Julie and Julia” leave the theater and head right to the book store?

I’m guessing the overwhelming majority did, because, for the first time ever, Julia Child’s classic cookbook masterpiece, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, is number one on the New York Times Best Seller list.  It was originally published in 1961.

What is the saying, “All good things come to those who wait?”

Nora Ephron, the director of the movie, must be very proud to assist in this achievement.

Ms. Ephron is known for making chic flicks, “Sleepless in Seattle,” is probably what she is best known for.  But, I gotta tell ya, Old School enjoyed “Julie and Julia” as much as I did, if not more.  We laughed and cried during the same scenes.  He didn’t fidget once.  Didn’t get up to use the restroom either.

By the way, as for Merly Streep as Julia Child?  Someone call the Academy and just give her the Oscar now.  Stanley Tucci is brilliant as Julia’s husband as well, and together they make this movie a must-see.  A perfect date flick.

So back to the cookbook.  The food in the film is heavenly and there are several scenes that feature Julia’s Boeuf Bourguignon.  Which is basically beef stew. REALY GOOD beef stew.  As Old School and I walked out of the theater, he asked what day this week would I be preparing the Boeuf Bourguignon…he’s funny like that.

Since I’m still mostly unemployed (and still looking for that amazingly perfect part-time job) I decided, what the heck, I can follow a recipe.  I’ll attempt the Boeuf Bourguignon.  As I don’t have the classic Julia cookbook, I Googled the recipe.  Voila!  Very easy to find.  Look!  Only 10 ingredients!  I can do that.  They even tell you what kind of wine to buy and which cut of beef works best.

And then I read the instructions…..all 45 steps.  Forty-five steps!  What the what?!

The recipe says it takes one hour of prep time and five hours of cooking time.  Did I mention I still don’t have a job?  What excuse do I have NOT to try this?

For my birthday last week, my fabulous sisters got together and sent me a hefty gift certificate to Amazon  –  you know, buy what you want, when you want it. So generous.  Not only was I able to buy my favorite pair of Asics running shoes, I ordered Julia’s cookbook. That’s my excuse for not making the beef however-you-spell-it until next week when the book arrives.

I could have had a copy of this cookbook already if I had been the one who found it last Spring…..my sisters and I were going through our father’s belongings as we moved him out of his home of 45 years.  My oldest sister, Martha, the gourmet cook, found a copy that once belonged to our mother.  Martha even remembers her cooking from it — she calls it the most precious find of that whole two-day moving nightmare experience.  Even if I had found it, I wouldn’t have known what it was or the importance of the book in our family history, and in the history of American cooking.

So, I should have my own copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking by early next week, and then I’ll be out of excuses.  I’ll be sure to pick a day when my calendar is clear, so the Boeuf can have my complete attention.

I’ll let you know how it goes.

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