Clara the Kitchen Mascot

Meet Clara, my kitchen mascot. I found her at Crate & Barrel’s after-Christmas sale and couldn’t resist her. I mean, she’s a mouse wearing an apron, oven mitts, and a chef’s hat. What’s not to love?

Clara is named for the girl in the Nutcracker, and though she’s actually a Christmas ornament, I decided to keep her on my kitchen windowsill (sitting in a tealight holder so she won’t fall over) so she can cheer me on in my various baking endeavors. Clara, like me, believes that fear has no place in the kitchen, so she’s always supportive when I want to try something new – though she’d probably appreciate it if I baked with cheese more often.