I am not the most polished person when it comes to successfully completing domestic tasks. My existence leaves a pretty good trail of clutter everywhere I go, my collectibles have their own collection of dust, and cooking is a whole different story. I’ve always been a good mix of impatient and shy when it comes to honing my skills in the kitchen. I would really love to make food that other people like on a regular basis. Not saying it hasn’t happened; it’s just that the times that it happens are few and far between. My peers have called me a “novice”. I hang around Louisiana families with Zatarain’s seasoning and Crystal hot sauce coursing through their veins. It’s hard to please those who are seasoned, literally and figuratively.
I remember quite fondly one of my grandmother’s cookbooks from my childhood; it was called “Any Idiot Can Cook”. In my adulthood, I see the importance of the message that its title was trying to convey. I am one of those “idiots” in the kitchen all the time. When I have been turned loose by myself, I have figured out that I can make these foods and other people will actually eat them (and maybe even say they like them!):
Chicken and Dumplings:
When I cooked this the first time, I spent hours on the phone with my grandmother from the grocery store to the end of the cooking process to make sure I got everything exactly right. All you need is a pot of boiling water, an instant baking mix (like Bisquick) for the dumplings, some chicken to brown in a pan beforehand, and then milk, salt, and pepper for gravy. It’s really fun to make, and super warm and delicious. It’s one of my family’s favorite recipes, and I got non-family members to say they liked it!
Chicken Salad:
I love chicken salad. This is something easy to do with your leftover chicken. Shred it up, and then add your favorite cream base to it (I like olive oil mayonnaise and a little mustard). Then flavor it further with seasonings, pickles, fruits, etc. This is one that allows room for imagination! It also keeps well past the first day.
Eggs:
This is useful if you’re a breakfast person, or if you are a watcher of small children like me. I learned how to scramble eggs as a small child, and they still remain one of my very favorite foods to cook and eat. They’re good plain or with extras mixed in.
Baked Goods:
I once made these amazing fresh strawberry cupcakes I found on Pinterest for my boyfriend’s birthday. They were not as pretty as the example batch in the picture, but they were amazing!
Invest In a Panini Press:
I adore my Panini press! It takes any sandwich up a level, plus it grants me the ability to create a quick and delicious quesadilla when I feel like it.
I love to experiment with food in the kitchen. I don't ever see myself being professional-grade at cooking, but being able to get better at it for myself is a pretty cool feeling.
