learn to enjoy cooking

I can cook a few things but just don’t enjoy the process.

Maybe it’s the mess I make on the oven and the post-cleaning up process that makes the experience unlikable.

I made banana french toast today, and it was good. Part of my problem with cooking is the schedule we go by at home. Its erratic! Sometimes I or someone else would slave away for hours to prepare a meal only to store it away untouched. They like to do everything the same day, for example making rice and beans and chicken: they’d rather not to soak the beans overnight, or skinning and marinating the chicken ahead of time. I guess I like instant gratification. If I make something, I would like at least one person to taste and critique it in the near future… perhaps I’m spoiled. I can’t have it my way (all the time) and cooking is a necessary skill. No more excuses.

I usually buy lunch in between classes. Making an effort to eat healthier, I got a tuna fish sandwich(instead of the usual Jamaican beef patty). I began to feel overwhelmingly pathetic as the lady behind the counter began fixing my sandwich. To make conversation she asked, “Is this how you fix your tuna at home?” The strip was unmistakenly blue; I am lazy. I got motivated (the next day) to cook for myself. I made some kind of flatbread sandwich:wheat flatbread, guacamole, lettuce, and chicken breast, with onions, red peppers, and chalottes(sp?).It wasn’t bad, just so-so. I think my cooking genes haven’t been turned on yet. Until then…

so GREAT! now that i’m married and have a family to actually cook more, i’ve been noticing my urge to cook has come on full force. i’m ready to be a little homemaker in the kitchen!!! and i’m excited! now we just need to go shopping and buy some actual good food… that’s our next step.

first on the menu: meatloaf and mashed tades

also, some sort of stir fry

my head is spinning with so many ideas! i hope this excitement for cooking suppers for my family continues. i think it definitely will… it gives me great satisfaction.

i’ve mastered macaroni and cheese with scooby doo mac-n-cheese as a specialty item.

also, i make a mean toasted cheese sammich and tomato soup entree.

DELISH!

so apparently it took us going vegetarian for me to enjoy cooking. all these years and it turns out that i just really hated cooking meat! since going vegetarian at home, cooking has been really enjoyable, almost therapeutic! sweet :)

...i didn’t dislike cooking so much. at some point i actually enjoyed it, but now it feels like a chore.

My first attempt at making “Pirate Stew” in the crockpot….

ground beef browned with onions…first layer

1/4 cup rice

sliced raw potatoes…second layer

diced raw carrots…third layer

diced celery (about 1 cup)...fourth layer

2 cans red kidney beans

1 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp chili powder

1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 can tomato sauce

1/2 cup water

On low in the crock pot for 6 hours!

Just before it is done, I will whip up some baking powder biscuits and serve them warm with the stew. Aarrrrghhh!

I could happily cook if I stayed at home all the time. It is the 40 hour work week that generally puts a kabosh on any love for cooking. This week my family is spoiled.

with warm Sourdough bread from one of the the Pike Place Market bakeries. Yum!

Cooked my first salmon today, and it turned out well! Also decided to get some artichokes and let my 6 year old try them. He was quite fascinated and a good sport, eating half the artichoke and even trying the heart! With fresh strawberries, a delicious exotic meal!