i have a pair of black dansko clogs that have loved my feet so well. if shoes were like men, these clogs would be the safe bet. despite their eagerness to serve, i often find myself cooking in heels. why would you want to stand around in something comfortable and practical when you can stumble dance across the kitchen 3 inches taller in something flashy and red? those housewives of the fifties were onto something. years ago i finally had to do away with nail polish (hardly anyone enjoys a little crimpson garnish in their risotto, even when you bashfully explain the color is named for the song "lady is a tramp"). cooking is not always the most ladylike thing and the truth is, i am always doing it. most of the time i am relegated to a boxy white coat and a pair houndstooth pants that you could easily fit three of me inside. bear with me here, but when i have a day to myself, my relaxation is slippling on a pair of slingbacks and baking something pretty--a caramelized apple upside down cake, the recipe for which i will be happy to share with you tomorrow. nothing could be sweeter than a house filled with the scent of apples sinking into a wash of buttery caramel, but trust me, pulling them out of the oven in kitten heels adds to the effect.