When we first married almost 10 years ago I didn't know how to cook. I could boil water for Ramen or Macaroni and Cheese. I could make spaghetti. But beyond that I couldn't do much. Thankfully I was given some cookbooks as gifts and I used them! I needed them! I made a lot of the same meals (meatloaf, spaghetti) and would use boxed meals like Hamburger Helper. I always tried to do things that seemed easy.
I still like the easier recipes. I don't like to be in the kitchen all day chopping vegetables or whatever. But I have really come a long way from those first days, months and years of marriage. I love that I now have the confidence in myself to try new things. I've even thrown meals together without recipes, though I do like to stick to them. I'm just not always creative to come up with my own ideas, although I do tweak a recipe here or there.
Zach isn't a big pork or chicken fan. He likes his meals with ground beef. I get tired of making the same old things with it. But I've managed to make other things lately (with chicken not just ground beef) and they're good! I think meatloaf is still a staple in this house but its nice to have new things to try. It's nice to be confident in my cooking and in myself. Not every meal turns out like I thought and they never seem to look as pretty as in the pictures but I'm getting there! My latest recipes come from a cookbook from Pampered Chef. I made this meat mixture the other day and divided it into 3 different recipes! So we had Tostadas that night, Pasta Roll Ups the next and I have the other mixture in the freezer to make chili on another night. I've also used a few other recipes from this book. I also like Kraft Food & Family magazine. They're recipes are so quick & easy and usually use items I already have!
What kind of cook are you? Do you like to cook? Do you try new things? Do you have a favorite cookbook? Do you use a cookbook or do you just make things up?
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
I've come a long way baby
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
I am not so sure I like to cook, but I do it out of necessity as my family likes to eat. I am a "dump cook" as my family likes to share with everyone. I have a hard time sticking to a recipe w/o adding stuff. I LOVE to use my crock pot.
When I was little I used to watch cooking shows instead of cartoons. So I have an interest in cooking. My SIL on the other hand LOOOOOOVEEES to cook, and LOOOOOOOVEEEES to talk about how much she LOOOOOVEEESSSS to cook, and how much peope LOOOOVEEEE her cooking, because she LOOOOOVEEEES to cook and she is so GREAT at it. If you don't talk like her, you must hate cooking and she will say "don't worry with practice you will be able to cook". Needless to say, I kind of hate bringing anything to family functions for my in-laws. If you don't rave about your own cooking, you might as well throw your stuff in the trash because they won't try it. If you dare to make a sweet potato something, Chad's cousin will make fun of you (I still can't figure that one out he doesn't hate sweet potatoes)...he will just keep laughing (and pointing) that you brought something made with sweet potatoes. So now I don't even bother to bring a dish for dinner to their family functions, always an appetizer they can just ignore.
I rarely follow recipes to a T. I end up adding more or less of something, even the first time. I love to try new things. The problem we have is I will make up a recipe on the fly and we will love it but since I kind of make it on the fly, I don't remember what I did and we will probably never eat it again.
Right now my favorite cookbook is Alton Brown's baking book. I don't actually make a lot of recipes from it it has good general baking instructions.
So to sum up. Yes I love to cook, but I only really cook for Chad(and he does criticize so I can handle that). I love to try new things. I love reading cookbooks for ideas, but mostly I just make stuff up.....oh and my in-laws are actually nice people I just don't like to cook for them that much.
I don't really like to cook. Especially if it requires alot of time. Us moms don't have all the time in the world. I'm pretty much like you, I like simple meals that I can throw together in a minute. I always try to stick to what the recipe calls for, never adding much of my own to it in fear that it will turn out gross and a waste. However I do get tired of cooking the same things and will go look up at allrecipes.com for some new things to try. Everything I have tried on there has been really good. I always read people suggestions though before trying it and usually try something that is rated 4 or 5 stars. I don't have any real good cookbooks although I saw one at Walmart I want for my birthday. It's the Taste of Home cookbook. Good luck in your cooking.
I won't say that cooking is my favorite thing to do, but I do it none the less. I like easy meals that make it "look" like I spent all day in the kitchen, lol. I love to throw in a roast and potatoes ~ it takes 5 minutes to throw together, but to Paul, it's a great meal! I do try new things but usually it's a recipe that someone I know has tried. My favorite type of cookbooks are the ones that are put together by the members of the local churches ~ they are full of "family favorites" so usually I find more things in there that call for the normal ingredients that I have on hand. I cannot "just throw things together" and have it come out good ~ a recipe is a definite "must have" for me!
Sherry S.
I'm like you Sherry, if I use a recipe in a book, I have to follow the instructions to a tee. I can cook without looking in a book of course, because I have been cooking for years. I don't mind cooking when I have the time and plan ahead. Which I don't. I cook because we have to eat! And no one can say I don't like to eat, right Jamie? Kim I have alot of the old taste of home magazines that I haven't used in years, I decided to buy the annual books instead. Easier to look through one book rather than 12. If you want I can send you some. I look in the church books as well. Most are ones you have the ingredients for without having to go and buy them.
Post a Comment