learn to cook from three new recipes

Spring Greens Soup

Because spring greens is one of the cheapest vegetables :) I made my first attempt this evening, and it was tasty :) Used too much water probably, and the amounts of various ingredients need adjusting, but it was good. I’ll see if I can take a photo when I try it again. It does make me wonder though, why the leeks is cooked for about 30 minutes, when it usually takes 6 – is it because of the lower heat? Wouldn’t that destroy the vitamin C or something?

the salmon cream tagliatelle Cyn showed me – I was going to take a photo of the finished product, but it actually isn’t the prettiest dish! (Not when I do it anyway! :) ) I couldn’t get it to look anywhere as good as the photo on that page :) I’ve actually made three attempts at it, and strangely enough, my first attempt was the best – kinda like with recording music, where the first attempt often turns out best because you’re not thinking too much about it. Anyway, I’ve been trying to adjust what Cyn calls my “guesstimates” of how much of everything to put in, and… it needs work! :) But it tasted quite good the first time, and it’s given me back some confidence to try more recipes. So: one down, two to go!

is that you get good books for next to nothing. One of the many, many books I’ve brought home is a cookbook called Hungry? – Quick, Easy Everyday Food. Now, looking at the recipes, they’re not that quick. Or easy – but my bar is set low. (Though there was one recipe which ended with the most helpful instruction – “Eat.” You’re not the boss of me! I can do what I want with it.) Anyway, I may be able to pick out a recipe from in there. If not, there are other recipe books I have lying around somewhere, that people have given me in the past, possibly as a joke. I’m sure I’ll be able to find something to try Sunday, and start working on this goal again. (Thanks for the reminder Ellie! :) )

need to pick this one up again.

(edit: um, oops – I meant “haven’t” but typed “having”. But that will be true soon!)

A good friend introduced me to this, an uncooked sauce for pasta. So simple and tasty, especially if you like garlic, which I do :)

The recipe’s here – I’m going to play around and experiment with it a bit more to find the best balance!

For an artist date, followed the recipe here. Tasted great. Possibly because I had been settling for such tasteless food before, and it was such a contrast. Didn’t have all the perfect ingredients, but improvised. Somehow I got it close to just right the first time – I haven’t been able to reproduce quite the same taste since :)

It gave me a great sense of achievement, and the food looked good for once too. Smelled good. All-round great experience. Learning to cook is now a new hobby!

If I’m better at cooking, I’ll look forward to eating much more, and the meals everyday wouldn’t seem like such a chore.

I think I would enjoy cooking. It’s just time-consuming, that’s all. But I’ll make time.