As a human being, I know I'm growing when I'm learning. It's expanding my mind. This year I've decided to take action and learn something out of my comfort zone; cooking. I need recipies, and measurements, and well, I just work better with things that are precise. I'm sure there are some great cooks out there who are very precise, but I see the world of cooking being best, when "gut" and "intuition" are applied. Bethany frustrates me because she can cook a meal to make Red Lobster or the local steak house go out of business. And she does it mainly by guessing!!!
So, I've decided to apply my mind and energy to learning to cook something new each week. It's a simple process; I get hungry, I look for a simple recipe, and I learn the basics.
I watched a youtube video of a French Chef making "the perfect omelette." Here's one with Jamie Oliver that's close. I practiced that for the last 3 weeks. Now I'm throwing veggies and spices and whatnot into it and MAN do I look forward to that 30 minutes before I go to work when I make and enjoy an omelette.
I'm also working on Asian sauces. Stir fry was a staple growing up, but mom didn't often make elaborate sauces from scratch. I like to take things a step further, and my wife's palatte appreciates that! So, I've made a ginger/soy type of stir fry sauce, and almost was picked up and swung around the kitchen when Bethany figured out I had learned to ACTUALLY cook (her interpretation of my spaghetti and scrambled eggs and such was that was not really cooking. I now agree.)
So, be brave, learn something new. Watch a youtube video and TRY SOMETHING SIMPLE. The latest experiment has been chicken in a Sherry sauce (cooking Sherry). I totally screwed up the first try, but the second attempt, well, I'm jumping up and down to go eat it. I know they may not always be that easy, but I'm going to keep trying.
Let me know what you've tried!
