Have Cutting Board, Will Cook… July 23, 2007

Okay, I think it’s serious. Barry told me this morning he passed up watching Beckham’s debut with L.A. Galaxy last night, to go with me to my neighbor’s party. Ooo, how romantic…
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Now, what is my problem? I haven’t been serious about cooking in about four months. My culinary skills are atrophying! I made spaghetti the other night for dinner and it was so bland. I used pork instead of hamburger and I guess I should have browned it with sage and oregano, but I didn’t. The pork tasted like it was a tantrum throwing toddler, competing with the marinara sauce for attention instead of being the backbone that held it up. Oh well, next time I will take care to season the meat properly before I go at it.

I never used to have to think about cooking. I liked to say I was channeling my French ancestors in the kitchen. I don’t know if any of them were phenomenal cook, I just played into the stereotype. Seriously, have you ever started a pot of chicken noodle soup using bacon? Where would I have gotten that spark of inspiration if not from them?) I would start with one ingredient and just feel the flavors in my bones and start cooking. I could come up with some mean dishes…eggplant parmigiana (made with a cornmeal breading), zucchini succotash, fresh baked herbed chicken, hush puppies…all using what I had on hand.

I am thinking about making halibut again for dinner tonight, but the last time I made it with rice and leeks, there was no color to the dish and it looked like it was in serious need of a suntan. Completely unappealing. Oh, why is this suddenly so hard? Why have my ancestors left me? Argh. I think I’ll go look up some good recipes.

P.S. Thanks for the post, Kerri! I love icanhazcheezberger!