(no subject)
After watching countless hours of The Next Food Network Star today (my favorite contestant won -- the funny, gay couple from Chicago Dan & Steve), I started thinking to myself, "Can I cook?" Make blended drinks, yes -- and how! Microwave things, check. But actually make real meals?
My best girlfriends would laugh and say NO, bringing up countless incidents of me burning sauces or overcooking things, which is all true. My mom would say maybe, because I do help her out in the kitchen. But I started thinking about what was going to happen to me when I have to live on my own, away from mom's cooking and dining hall smorgasbords. Some day I would have to provide for myself. Could I make my own grown-up meals, or would I live on frozen pizzas and Ramen noodles forever?
My mom came to ask me what I wanted for dinner, and I told her that I would handle it myself. I am proud to say that I made my own very succesful meal of yellow Spanish rice (saffron!) and a grilled chicken breast seasoned with curry, corriander, and cumin sauteed with mushrooms, green onions, and pecans (I don't know why..I guess just for fun, but they were good). I took my time choosing the spices and chopped the onion and murshrooms with precision and ease. For one moment I imagined myself in my own home, making my own meals for myself, and one day for a family, and I felt good. Even though it was only one meal, it made me feel better about my overall skills in the kitchen.
So, the point of this story is to tell you that people actually do get inspiration to cook from watching the Food Network, and I'm sappy.
My best girlfriends would laugh and say NO, bringing up countless incidents of me burning sauces or overcooking things, which is all true. My mom would say maybe, because I do help her out in the kitchen. But I started thinking about what was going to happen to me when I have to live on my own, away from mom's cooking and dining hall smorgasbords. Some day I would have to provide for myself. Could I make my own grown-up meals, or would I live on frozen pizzas and Ramen noodles forever?
My mom came to ask me what I wanted for dinner, and I told her that I would handle it myself. I am proud to say that I made my own very succesful meal of yellow Spanish rice (saffron!) and a grilled chicken breast seasoned with curry, corriander, and cumin sauteed with mushrooms, green onions, and pecans (I don't know why..I guess just for fun, but they were good). I took my time choosing the spices and chopped the onion and murshrooms with precision and ease. For one moment I imagined myself in my own home, making my own meals for myself, and one day for a family, and I felt good. Even though it was only one meal, it made me feel better about my overall skills in the kitchen.
So, the point of this story is to tell you that people actually do get inspiration to cook from watching the Food Network, and I'm sappy.