learn to cook more things

I’m doing a pretty good job of this, despite not having a kitchen!

In a few weeks I’ll be able to really make progress because I’m moving into an apartment instead of a dorm and we’ll have a real kitchen—plus one of my roommates also loves to cook!

(pictured: DELICIOUS chicken saltimbocca)

If you need to learn how to cook first- all I can say is “The Fannie Farmer Cookbook.” Seriously.

It’s been around for over 100 years and explains everything without assuming.

Also- dont cook ANYTHING until ALL your prep work is done.

i have been loooking up easy pasta recipes and casserole dishes.

The other night the hubby and I planned out meals for the next two weeks. The idea is twofold: (1) we take turns making dinner and (2) we each learn to make something new once in a while.

Of course, there has to be some competition. So John thinks we should rate each other on taste, presentation, etc. This could be fun…

Last night I made a Pampered Chef Florentine Garden Ring. I’ve had it before, but hadn’t made it myself since I got my baking stone. It was delicious. John loved it.

The oven is a disaster now… guess I will clean it this weekend.

:-)

Last week I also made a dish from Real Simple magazine called Spicy Coconut Noodles. I served it with chicken. It was spicy and yummy.

Last night I made mini cheesecakes. Husband loves them. It wasn’t a new recipe, but I did have to bust out the mixer… so that took some effort. :)

a. Learned how to spell zucchini.
b. Couscous is fun to say.
c. Zucchini couscous recipe made in the rice cooker is delightful. We’ll have it again!

I have learned to cook a few things already in my life. I’m fairly good at wok cooking. Many thanks to the book Hot Wok. I can pretty much turn any meat and vegetable into a stir fry dish.

Since I was fairly adept at the wok, I decided a rice cooker was next. I am getting to be fairly consistent with brown rice in the rice cooker. But nothing more adventurous than that. I have The Ultimate Rice Cooker Cookbook. So far I have only used it to make plain old rice. But this weekend I’m going to attempt a couscous recipe. Mum’s the word on that until I see how it goes.

But that’s all I have to offer from the kitchen! My other meals are pretty plain and basic. I bought the ingredients to try 2 new recipes before the end of the weekend… so we’ll see how that goes.