--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wish you could have seen the kitchen…" description: "\"“I wish you could have seen the kitchen when I was done: It looked like a hurricane had blown right in the door! But I cleaned it all up, and when Moth..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4eb/ruth-reichl-13523_cookies_i-wish-you-could-have-seen-the-kitchen-w_811033.jpg" --- # I wish you could have seen the kitchen when I was done: It… ![“I wish you could have seen the kitchen when I was done: It looked like a hurricane had blown right in the door! But I cleaned it all up, and when Mother came home the whole house smelled warm and spicy, Bing Crosby was singing "White Christmas" on the radio, I was wearing a clean apron, and she…” quote by Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4eb/ruth-reichl-13523_cookies_i-wish-you-could-have-seen-the-kitchen-w_811033.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4eb/ruth-reichl-13523_cookies_i-wish-you-could-have-seen-the-kitchen-w_811033.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4eb/ruth-reichl-13523_cookies_i-wish-you-could-have-seen-the-kitchen-w_811033.jpg) > ““I wish you could have seen the kitchen when I was done: It looked like a hurricane had blown right in the door! But I cleaned it all up, and when Mother came home the whole house smelled warm and spicy, Bing Crosby was singing "White Christmas" on the radio, I was wearing a clean apron, and she called me her "little homemaker." What would you think about tomato mincemeat cookies? I bet no one else will think of that!”” [Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She describes transforming a chaotic kitchen into a warm, inviting home, highlighting the power of effort, hospitality, and creativity in everyday life. **In simple terms:** Hard work turns mess into comfort. Key Takeaway Create comfort through care. Themes hospitality creativity family food Mood warm nostalgic proud Type inspirational reflective When to use this quote - hosting dinner - comfort cooking - celebrating holidays - improving home atmosphere Key Concepts culinary arts home economics personal transformation Questions to Reflect On - How does you improve a space? - What small acts bring warmth to others? A Different Perspective Effort may not always be appreciated by others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Homemaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homemaker/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [White christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-christmas/) ## Related quotes > [Why that would be like challenging Bing Crosby to a singing contest,wouldn't it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hogan/why-that-would-be-like-challenging-bing-crosby-to-a-singing-contest/) [Ben Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hogan/) > [“I've named my cookies Snowballs, but not because that's what they look like. It's the way they make you feel. You know how it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/i-ve-named-my-cookies-snowballs-but-not-because-that-s-what-they-look/) [Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/) > [“Tommy and I put on a radio play to entertain everyone while they unpacked their cookies. It was about a girl who saves up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/tommy-and-i-put-on-a-radio-play-to-entertain-everyone-while-they/) [Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/) > [“Dear Mr. Beard, On the radio last spring, President Roosevelt said that each and every one of us here on the home front has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/dear-mr-beard-on-the-radio-last-spring-president-roosevelt-said-that/) [Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/) > [I've always been a little homemaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-winehouse/i-ve-always-been-a-little-homemaker/) [Amy Winehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-winehouse/) > [“Bing Crosby and those fellows promised to love deeper than the ocean and higher than the stars for eternity. But who can sustain that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-torode/bing-crosby-and-those-fellows-promised-to-love-deeper-than-the-ocean/) [Sam Torode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-torode/) > [The only successful person in the world is Bing Crosby. I'm sure he'll be working tomorrow, and that's success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elaine-may/the-only-successful-person-in-the-world-is-bing-crosby-i-m-sure-he-ll/) [Elaine May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elaine-may/) > [Bing Crosby and I weren't the types to go around kissing each other. We always had a light jab for each other. One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/bing-crosby-and-i-weren-t-the-types-to-go-around-kissing-each-other/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [All of my life people have thought of me as Bing Crosby's daughter. Now they'll remember me as the person who shot J.R.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-crosby/all-of-my-life-people-have-thought-of-me-as-bing-crosby-s-daughter/) [Mary Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-crosby/) > [When I was in my formative years, I rejected Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, and Dean Martin. I now realise they were all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/when-i-was-in-my-formative-years-i-rejected-frank-sinatra-bing-crosby/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) > [A lot of people influenced me as I was learning, but probably Bing Crosby was the most influential because I would hear his Christmas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-lightfoot/a-lot-of-people-influenced-me-as-i-was-learning-but-probably-bing/) [Gordon Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-lightfoot/) > [Bing Crosby said that Armstrong is "the beginning and the end of music in America," and he wasn't far wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-giddins/bing-crosby-said-that-armstrong-is-the-beginning-and-the-end-of-music/) [Gary Giddins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-giddins/) > [I love 'White Christmas.' That's one of my favorites just because I love the music. I love the story, Bing Crosby. It's just one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bakula/i-love-white-christmas-that-s-one-of-my-favorites-just-because-i-love/) [Scott Bakula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bakula/) > [I often talked to Bing Crosby, and while I liked him, I never understood why he was so popular. To me his voice was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hedy-lamarr/i-often-talked-to-bing-crosby-and-while-i-liked-him-i-never/) [Hedy Lamarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hedy-lamarr/) > [Bing Crosby and I play a lot of golf together and I have a small course at my place where we often play for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/bing-crosby-and-i-play-a-lot-of-golf-together-and-i-have-a-small/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) ## More by Ruth Reichl > [...in the end you are the only one who can make yourself happy. More important, ...it is never too late to find out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/in-the-end-you-are-the-only-one-who-can-make-yourself-happy-more/) [Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/) > [When a person has lived generously and fought fiercely, she deserves more than sadness at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/when-a-person-has-lived-generously-and-fought-fiercely-she-deserves/) [Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/) > [“but when I told her they didn’t cost one penny and were very nutritious (I made that part up, but I’m sure it must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/but-when-i-told-her-they-didn-t-cost-one-penny-and-were-very/) [Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/) > [“He was like a jazz musician, joyfully improvising, imagining tastes that ordinary people could not. He pulled ingredients apart and reconstructed them in endlessly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/he-was-like-a-jazz-musician-joyfully-improvising-imagining-tastes/) [Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/) > [“Every restaurant is a theater, and the truly great ones allow us to indulge in the fantasy that we are rich and powerful. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/every-restaurant-is-a-theater-and-the-truly-great-ones-allow-us-to/) [Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/) > [“She took a sip of wine and held it in her mouth, straining to identify the flavors. Cherry, she thought. Licorice. Thorns. She imagined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/she-took-a-sip-of-wine-and-held-it-in-her-mouth-straining-to-identify/) [Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/) > [“She's always sniffing the bottles in the spice cabinet." I didn't know she'd even noticed. At first it was just curiosity; why did fennel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/she-s-always-sniffing-the-bottles-in-the-spice-cabinet-i-didn-t-know/) [Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/) > [Plain fresh bread, its crust shatteringly crisp. Sweet cold butter. There is magic in the way they come together in your mouth to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/plain-fresh-bread-its-crust-shatteringly-crisp-sweet-cold-butter/) [Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/) > [“Tommy and I put on a radio play to entertain everyone while they unpacked their cookies. It was about a girl who saves up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/tommy-and-i-put-on-a-radio-play-to-entertain-everyone-while-they/) [Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/) > [“I remember the pissaladière. We stood there watching them cook and eating that soft, oily bread. Back then I was so poor I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/i-remember-the-pissaladi-re-we-stood-there-watching-them-cook-and/) [Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/) > [“The meal began with pickled squid, oyster shooters, marinated anchovies, and scungilli salad. Then Rosalie set an enormous bowl of pasta con le vongole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/the-meal-began-with-pickled-squid-oyster-shooters-marinated-anchovies/) [Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/) > [“...I was not prepared for the feel of the noodles in my mouth, or the purity of the taste. I had been in Japan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/i-was-not-prepared-for-the-feel-of-the-noodles-in-my-mouth-or-the/) [Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/) > [It is not 'only' food, I said heatedly. There's meaning hidden underneath each dish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/it-is-not-only-food-i-said-heatedly-there-s-meaning-hidden-underneath/) [Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/) > [“You'll find that historical research is extremely soothing. When you spend all day among old papers, the people come alive for you, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/you-ll-find-that-historical-research-is-extremely-soothing-when-you/) [Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/) > [“That's the most terrible thing about being a child; you're convinced that it's all your fault." Lulu”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/that-s-the-most-terrible-thing-about-being-a-child-you-re-convinced/) [Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/) [Explore all 50 Ruth Reichl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/) ## More Cookies quotes > [Voltaire was a smart cookie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry/voltaire-was-a-smart-cookie/) [John Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry/) > [I'm a mom, a full-time mom when I'm not taping. I do the carpool thing, and bake the cookies, and do the homework.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanna-white/i-m-a-mom-a-full-time-mom-when-i-m-not-taping-i-do-the-carpool-thing/) [Vanna White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanna-white/) > [We laughed the rest of the way, because the point of this story is, it is not the cookies. It is the love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/we-laughed-the-rest-of-the-way-because-the-point-of-this-story-is-it/) [Daniel Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [My dental hygienist is cute. Every time I visit, I eat a whole package of Oreo cookies while waiting in the lobby. Sometimes she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/my-dental-hygienist-is-cute-every-time-i-visit-i-eat-a-whole-package/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [Remember, sex is like a Chinese dinner. It ain't over 'til you both get your cookie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-baldwin/remember-sex-is-like-a-chinese-dinner-it-ain-t-over-til-you-both-get/) [Alec Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-baldwin/) > [And just so you know for the future, I like my double-chocolate chip cookies warm and soft in the middle...and without magnets glued to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/and-just-so-you-know-for-the-future-i-like-my-double-chocolate-chip/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [My mother 'gave teas' the way other mothers breathed. Her own mother 'gave teas.' All of their friends 'gave teas,' each involving butter cookies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/my-mother-gave-teas-the-way-other-mothers-breathed-her-own-mother/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [Man, he deserves a hero cookie. (Selena)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/man-he-deserves-a-hero-cookie-selena/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I try a different cookie recipe every time I bake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-windsor/i-try-a-different-cookie-recipe-every-time-i-bake/) [Devon Windsor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-windsor/) > [Funny, how one good cookie could calm the mind and even elevate a troubled soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/funny-how-one-good-cookie-could-calm-the-mind-and-even-elevate-a/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [Also, worldbuilding touches all aspects of your story. It touches plot and character as well. If you don't know the culture your character comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/also-worldbuilding-touches-all-aspects-of-your-story-it-touches-plot/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Cookies at both of them. The cookies are probably better at Letterman though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/cookies-at-both-of-them-the-cookies-are-probably-better-at-letterman/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [It's just him and me and cookies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-just-him-and-me-and-cookies/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was not a classic mother. But my kids were never palmed off to boarding school. So, I didn't bake cookies. You can buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raquel-welch/i-was-not-a-classic-mother-but-my-kids-were-never-palmed-off-to/) [Raquel Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raquel-welch/) > [I'm an animal thug, I grew up eatin' animal cookies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akinyele/i-m-an-animal-thug-i-grew-up-eatin-animal-cookies/) Akinyele Browse all 489 Cookies quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I wish you could have seen the kitchen when I was done: It looked like a hurricane had blown right in the door! But I cleaned it all up, and when Mother came home the whole house smelled warm and spicy, Bing Crosby was singing \"White Christmas\" on the radio, I was wearing a clean apron, and she called me her \"little homemaker.\" What would you think about tomato mincemeat cookies? 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