I am so uninspired by food at the moment.
I have never been a good cook, unlike Mr B who can slam some wheel nuts, a runner bean and some tabasco in a pan and end up with a feast that Gordon Ramsay wouldn’t turn his nose up at.
I can make basic stuff like bolognese and chilli, but when it comes to something a little more adventurous, (and I do mean only a little), I go all to pieces, as does my food.
My cakes never rise, my curries are kind of bland, and I tend to burn things alot, even toast and beans.
So when hatstand suggested in Friday’s comment that I make Mr B a nice chip cob, believe it or not that is just about my level of culinary prowess.
Don’t get me wrong, I like food.
I will never be a size zero, I wouldn’t want to be, but I’m just not very good at actually making it.
I find it so annoying sometimes.
I’m an intelligent woman with imagination and creativity.
I have perfectly working taste buds,
a good sense of smell,
eyes (for reading recipes, not ‘all the better to see you with’ etc that’s just a fairy tale.)
and hands,
but I cannot judge what might go with what, what tastes compliment each other and lead to mouth wateringly tasty grub.
Mr B says,” just fling stuff in a pan, it will be fine,” but he knows from experience that with me that just isn’t the case.
I know not to add salt to chocolate mousse. (yum, mousse)
I know that gravy does not go with salad.
But ask me to judge whether something needs a little more pepper, a tad more balsamic or a dash of chilli, I go all to pieces and just end up making sandwiches.
I’m similar with decorating my home.
I like to think I’m a fairly creative and artistic person.
I have painted castles, and mermaids and various requests on my children’s bedroom walls. I created a brain for a display by stuffing tan tights with cotton wool and sewing them in a brain like pattern all over a rounded lampshade.
I decorated our front room for a Halloween Party with confidence and enthusiasm and it was easy.
But the thought of choosing a colour pallette for any of the grown-up rooms in my house absolutely terrifys me.
Maybe that’s it!
Maybe I’m just good at the imaginative stuff that will be judged by kids.
Maybe when it comes to creating an adult aesthetic I just haven’t matured enough yet.
I’ll try that one on Mr B when I do him chip cob and salad on our anniversary…
Hmmm, might just convince him to go out for a meal instead. (Hooray)
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June 24th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
I always say if I was meant to cook, I would have been given a better kitchen!
June 25th, 2007 at 12:03 am
That’s it, that’s what it is.
June 25th, 2007 at 7:39 am
I tend to lose concentration and get side-tracked, often with disastrous results. Or, I make stuff up that’s really tasty but can never replicate. Most frustrating.
I like the sound of the brain/lamp thingy – sounds very ingenious.
June 25th, 2007 at 8:21 am
Thanks Mya.
Nice to think I do have some moments of genius.
Just not in the kitchen.
I can make things look kind of ok, but they just taste nasty.
When I do my kids birthday cakes, I buy ready-made sponges then decorate them myself.
I know it’s kind of cheating but this way I’m still making an effort without creating casualties.
And it’s the fun bit.
June 25th, 2007 at 9:45 am
The best thing to make for dinner is reservations.
Haha—kidding.
I like to cook also, but I am better at baking than preparing entrees for some reason. Although I do make a pretty good stir fry and some good pasta dishes I think up in the moment.
The best thing to do to improve at cooking? Keep doing it. My mother used to say that.
June 25th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
I promise to try harder.
Honest.
Though making reservations sounds pretty good advice too…
June 29th, 2007 at 5:17 am
Susan is right; it’s practice. But you need time and you need to think to yourself: Ok, I’m going to teach myself how to do this. And you need to be happy that you might have to do it 2 or 3 times beofre getting it right.
For example, when making pancakes I would never expect the first one to go right..maybe not even the second.
Time and intent – that’s the key!
June 29th, 2007 at 7:04 am
Thanks Natural Blonde.
I’m going to follow your advice.
Everyone has a token dish, so I’m going to find myself one and practiice, practice, practice.
I’ll let you all know if I manage to do it.
I see a post on kitchen disasters coming this way soon…