My mother never used recipes, and they tend to stress me out because they're so fussy and you need to have a list when shopping for them (and then you have a breakdown in aisle three when you realise they're out of cornstarch! ... this is why I don't bake), so I prefer to look at a recipe that seems interesting and then wing it and taste as I go along. What I've done instead is write down a short list of taste combinations that I like: citrus and chicken; pork, sweet sauce and pepper (honey and pepper glazed short ribs are amazing); seafood, coconut milk and ginger; grilled meats and yogurt; etc. Once you figure out what you like, you can look at a bunch of ingredients and make something up, and it's easier to change things around when you get bored. It also makes it easier to shop. :)
Re: not being able to use onions and things, I have an idea - can you use shallots instead? They're tiny, and I cant imagine one stretching further than a couple of meals. Or scallions. They taste onion-y too! I have no problem using up an entire small onion by myself, but that's because I have a horrible weakness for caramelised onions and think they go with lots of sandwiches.
Dude, I have no idea who you are, but we should really get together and cook sometime. I like your style. The taste combos, the use of caramelized onions, pasta with whatever, egg on pizza... I'm a fan!
She also had mad mastery of color coding, organizing, and spreadsheets. She speaks French and German, covers screens, and I know not what. Not to mention the improvement of her mind by extensive reading.
But just to spite us, she lives in the Philippines.
Inspired by you, I just cooked (and ate) a rather nice meal. (Spinach salad, cous cous with fixin's, and chicken stirfry)
Part of my problem is if the food isn't to-die-for I figure, "why bother?" This was just beyond mediocre, and in the end I probably prefer my Pasta Roni. But I think this is better for me and also doesn't depress me as much as Pasta Roni every night. I feel very chuffed!
I would totally make you chili if you came here :o)
Yeah, recipes suck. But I love baking. If I'm baking I get so excited about it that I don't mind going to the shop to pick up JUST THAT, although it does suck when they're out of cornstarch.
Yeah, I do think I just don't have a handle on what flavors go together. I mean, I know I like rosemary and chicken, but then . . . I end up having rosemary and chicken every single night, you know, which is one of my problems.
Shallots! Good idea. I do love carmelised onions, but I don't eat that many sandwiches because of the bread thing. Well, and I try not to have carbs, which means even though sandwiches are like my favorite food, I just don't have many of them. But I should have carmelized onions with more things!
Thanks for the peas advice. I particularly love your idea of lazy pesto! Cool.
I'll have to try the wax paper.
Thanks so much for all this cool advice, T! I feel that under your tutelage I shall be a lazy grand master!
Re: not being able to use onions and things, I have an idea - can you use shallots instead? They're tiny, and I cant imagine one stretching further than a couple of meals. Or scallions. They taste onion-y too! I have no problem using up an entire small onion by myself, but that's because I have a horrible weakness for caramelised onions and think they go with lots of sandwiches.
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But just to spite us, she lives in the Philippines.
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Excellent Austen shout-out there, by the way.
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Part of my problem is if the food isn't to-die-for I figure, "why bother?" This was just beyond mediocre, and in the end I probably prefer my Pasta Roni. But I think this is better for me and also doesn't depress me as much as Pasta Roni every night. I feel very chuffed!
I would totally make you chili if you came here :o)
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Yeah, I do think I just don't have a handle on what flavors go together. I mean, I know I like rosemary and chicken, but then . . . I end up having rosemary and chicken every single night, you know, which is one of my problems.
Shallots! Good idea. I do love carmelised onions, but I don't eat that many sandwiches because of the bread thing. Well, and I try not to have carbs, which means even though sandwiches are like my favorite food, I just don't have many of them. But I should have carmelized onions with more things!
Thanks for the peas advice. I particularly love your idea of lazy pesto! Cool.
I'll have to try the wax paper.
Thanks so much for all this cool advice, T! I feel that under your tutelage I shall be a lazy grand master!
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