not that bad...

@jairgirl (2877)
United States
July 22, 2008 7:28pm CST
i have been busy all day clearing and cleaning our kitchen, i didnt realize how much can goods and other stuff we have in all our cabinets till i have them all arranged. so i found out we have bunch of chilli ingredients (my man loves to make chilli) so to make it easier for him i arrange one cabinet that only for him - anything chilli goes there so he dont have to ask me chabillion times where is where and he dont have to buy something that he already have. i told him that scheme and he is happy about it LOL so i found some rice noodles and some other things that i already forgot why i buy them in the first place. i realized that i need to just buy what we really used often and no need to buy anything else till i am very sure that i will used them that very week. four cabinets are arranged and now my assignment is to come up all week with foods that will used any of the can goods and ingredients we have both in cabinet and fridge. i guess i will need 3 weeks to finish them all yay! anyway, so i start my assignment tonight and prepare something that will used rice noodles on it. we have some beef shanks and lots of beef and so i decided to copy a chinese noodle recipe that we used to have back in beijing. i slow cooked the beef and added green beans (instead of cabbage or bukchoy - something that sounds like that LOL) and potatoes on it then i added the rice noodles before i serve it. i open a bottle of chili garlic sauce that i often see in a chinese restaurant and let my hubby decide if he will like it with that or not. all in all, it turns out pretty good he likes it specially after adding 2 tablespoons of chili garlic sauce. i only added a few drops of it coz i dont like that kind of spicy flavor on my soup. he told me that he likes it and surprise that it turned out great, he knows that i just made that dish up so i warn him that i am willing to give him other meal in case he dont want it. he ate a bowl and he says he will eat the left over for tomorrow's lunch (we have extra bowl left) so it is not bad at all... my first try works so tomorrow i need to come up with something new again. i dont mind at all coz i like to cook anyway beside it makes me happy that something that i made up works out well in his palate LOL how about you? do you like to cook? are you afraid to try new things even though you know nothing about it? any experience were you say - it's not that bad at all!!! looking forward to hear from you! takecare
4 people like this
9 responses
neelygal
@neelygal (1022)
• Bahamas
23 Jul 08
I often will experiment and be alittle afraid of the outcome.I have made some really good dishes by experimenting but there have also been a few bad ones that ended up in the trash too.My husband is often afraid when I ask him to tast this and tell me what you think.He knows I have interesting experiments going on in my kitchen at times,lol.
1 person likes this
jairgirl
@jairgirl (2877)
• United States
24 Jul 08
hello neelygal, hahaha, i can imagine your hubby's look whenever you tell him the experiment. i honestly feel that experiment makes it perfect in the end so there is no need to be afraid of it even a little but i guess to those who get criticize big time then it affects in some ways (i am talking bout some friends who hates to cook coz of their partners) my husband is very honest with my cooking, he knows that if he lies he will just suffer of eating the same nasty food in the end so he better be telling me if he likes it really or not. that kind of honesty helps me a lot to understand what is good and what is not coz he is pretty good on tasting it and not really afraid to taste mine except if we are out in a restaurant then he is sticking with what he knows LOL unlike me, i try anything as long as i know what is the ingredients but if i dont then i am skeptical about it coz you never know LOL anyway, keep up the fun in your kitchen im sure you will get the hang of it. takecare
checapricorn
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
23 Jul 08
Hi jair, Where is my share? hahahaha! Joke! Anyway, that's a great work for you there! I can imagine how busy your day is but for sure it pays off! After having everything arranged! I am not a good cook but I am trying..LOL! I watched my hubby a lot..He is just too fast so when I want to rehearse a certain menu, I will check first at you tube..LOL! But, I always love his output rather than mine..LOL! This time I can make few of his favorite like burrito and mashed potato but he is the chef..LOL! So, when I miss my food " Filipino" dish, I will be in the kitchen..LOL!
jairgirl
@jairgirl (2877)
• United States
24 Jul 08
hello che, yikes! i missed that share of yours - bummer! oh well there is always next time haha! yeah it was quite a work and i am happy i am done with it so i can just move on with the next one haha! i think once you get your hang on cooking no matter how bad you are in the beginning it will get better in the end so just keep trying. haha, i can imagine your hubby doing all the work and you are taking your time to video tape him for referrals LOL oh, one of my specialty is burrito i even have it showed to a chinese tv show one time when we are in beijing coz my hubby says i have a great recipe so i end up being in the show and you can imagine the rest being a blooper LOL i like to cook mexican food so that is one fun to do - i guess. my sister is studying culinary arts in finland so i she is better than me now - she used to watched and just eat in the end but this time i told her that she will prepare our food here when they arrived - pay time LOL!!! anyway, at least there is something you can cook other than boiling water and eggs haha! have a great evening! takecare
1 person likes this
checapricorn
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
24 Jul 08
wow! That's great! ANyway, I was just very dependent to my MOm before and now I am still, whenever I will miss her cooking, I am asking her recipe and try to make it in my own effort! LOL! A lot of trial and error here!
jairgirl
@jairgirl (2877)
• United States
24 Jul 08
hahaha, i cant blame you for being dependent to your mom when it comes to cooking, i used to be like you but now im kinda like teasing my mom that my version is better than hers and she will just laugh at me haha! trial and error is not bad as long as you have extra batch of ingredients at home IF NOT, then you are in trouble LOL thanks for sharing your thoughts. good night!
1 person likes this
loujac3
@loujac3 (1188)
• United States
24 Jul 08
It sounds like yo have a wonderful mate. It is not easy to do what you are doing. I love to cook and I live with two people that do not cook that often. I enjoy cooking for them. I will have to get more adventuous as you are and try my hand at experiments.
jairgirl
@jairgirl (2877)
• United States
24 Jul 08
hello loujac, yeah my husband is very wonderful and great critique as well. he is very honest on my cooking so that helps me push myself to the limit and or for more than what i think i can. it is not easy sometimes to experiment something specially if you have a very picky man at home so you have to make sure that you kinda add something that he might like and pray that he will have another bite LOL btw, the fact that you do enjoy cooking for them makes it a good start to have a better experimentation at home. keep me posted how it went and what meal you did once you decide to go for it. oh one more thing, i think if you feel that a certain ingredient compliment the other then you are in a good track and just move forward from that. thanks for being here and have a good night! takecare
Patsie Hatley
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
23 Jul 08
I love to cook Jairgirl and I like to experiment, usually my experiments turnout to be tasty, but my try to make' baking powder biscuits from scratch turned out just awful, too much baking powder and the bisuits were sour tasting. Others I have made were really very good like adding green peppers and onions to my pasta dish this was just really delicious, way above my normal pasta dish.
jairgirl
@jairgirl (2877)
• United States
24 Jul 08
hello hatley, i have not explored baking yet but i have few cookbooks at the kitchen. i am waiting for my mixer to come true LOL before i do my experiment on it, but i have made a good pizza crust (thin and crispy) and my hubby enjoys it a lot but other than that i am zero knowledge of it. oh is making my own egg noodles part of baking LOL i remember my sister-in-law made brownie for the first time when she is a teenager and it turns up to be as hard as a rock i think something about the egg makes it that way (i forgot the rest of the story but it was fun seeing her turning so red whenever my hubby mention it haha) oh talking about green peppers and onion (also red pepper and beef cubes) in pasta, i remember eating a pasta dish in china (pizza hut) and i do like it. it is peppery (which i never like) but for some reason i like that meal a lot and missing it since we left. anyway, great to know that you are not afraid to explore the beauty and fun of the kitchen. keep it up and thanks for being here! takecare
greenglitterturtle
@greenglitterturtle (2750)
• United States
23 Jul 08
i used to cook. and i did like to try new recipes. one thing too i noticed after awhile sometimes when you look at some recipes you know how it is going to taste just by seeing the recipe. and i could decide sometimes whether i'd like the recipe or not.
jairgirl
@jairgirl (2877)
• United States
24 Jul 08
hello there, i wonder if you like turtle (i have a turtle and his name is brian) anyway back to our topic, why you say used to cook? what makes you stop cooking? yeah, i know what you mean by saying that just by looking you know what it taste like. i have this mannerism whenever i am cooking that i almost never taste it and just add what i feel is enough and that sure if right and just perfect for my taste and who ever eats it LOL i wish i have this kind of thing when i was a kid where i can really understand all kinds of herbs and their uses and what is what and used that as my leverage of understanding cooking much better than what i have right now. oh well, it is not too late i guess but i still wished i have it earlier. thanks for being here. takecare
greenglitterturtle
@greenglitterturtle (2750)
• United States
24 Jul 08
i stopped cooking when i got burned out. after work don't feel like cooking. right now am not in my own house. i live with my sister and her family so we can both look after my mother. i need my own kitchen, supplies and groceries to cook. i can't cook in her kitchen. i had a gas stove. she has an electric and it doesn't work well. the only thing if feel like cooking at her house is scrambled eggs. i love putting in different ingredients, different spices, it's fast easy and fun.
greenglitterturtle
@greenglitterturtle (2750)
• United States
24 Jul 08
btw i used to have a turtle named alexander. i liked that little guy. he liked ice cream too. i'd put a little dab in his water and he'd come right over and gulp it. :D
bamakelly
@bamakelly (5191)
• United States
23 Jul 08
It sounds like you got a lot going on there! Your cabinets have provided you with some enjoyment it seems. You have come up with some interesting recipes. Sometimes you have to figure out what you are going to eat and have to come up with something different once in a while. Sometimes when I need to bulk up a meal a little I will get my Hamburger Helper and just add some extra noodles to it that I might have handy in the cupboard. Taking vegetables and adding them to certain dishes is also helpful.
jairgirl
@jairgirl (2877)
• United States
24 Jul 08
hello bamakelly, great to see you hear for the first time (i hope i am correct LOL) anyway, yeah i didnt even know what i have till i arrange 'em. i have to come up with other meal using them all but it is ok as i love it anyway. i didnt get the chance to do it today coz my hubby is out for lunch and i am home alone and we have a date tonight so will just do it tomorrow i guess, depends if he needs to go out again. i think, sometimes thinking what you will cook is dreadful LOL oh, we do the same thing to instant noodles. i made my own wontons and just freeze 'em so if my hubby wants some instant noodles i will make one and add few wontons on it and corn and that ends up being tasty and i think healthier than just having the cup noodles as it is. so great for you for doing the same thing, pretty good ei? haha. takecare
pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
23 Jul 08
Yes isn't it amazing the things you find in kitchen cabinets...stuff you forgot you had in it...LOL. Goodness thinking about chili makes me realize how long it's been since I've had any good down home chili...mmm...going grocery shopping tomorrow so think I'll do my own chili stocking up...LOL. Nope I've never been afraid to try something new. My mother claimed I had a lot of personality similarities to my great-grandmother...she was THE cook of the family while my grandmother and mother could burn water...hehe. It wasn't until I was graduating college however, that I started to really experiment with cooking....and of all things I decided to cool a la française...French cooking. Now no one, but no one not even my great-grandmother had ever done French style cooking...but I'm part French love the French language and studied a bit so I just HAD to give it a shot. Next thing you know, I'm doing crepes, quiches, tarts, gateaux, beouf bourgninon, and on and on...Then I explored Oriental cooking...did different dumplings, won ton soup with homemade won tons...then got into Mexican cooking...I also happen to be part Mexican as well (actually mulit-national here..LOL) My mother's idea of Mexican cooking was chili...that was it...but then I started making gazpacho soup, homemade tortillas, burritos, tamales..flan... So quite obviously I'm definitely not afraid to try something new.
jairgirl
@jairgirl (2877)
• United States
24 Jul 08
hello pye, hahaha yeah i think if i have a gold there it wont be that horrible LOL did you make chili today? my hubby is very proud of his chilli and he will always give a little dance when he teases me that he is the best chili maker in the world (yeah talking about NUTS haha!) i can relate with you saying that you are like your grandma, i am the same way. my grandma is well known for her tasty delicacies and she have few buyers at home coz they all love how she made it - really home made, now i am missing her (she passed away when i was 7) oh french cuisine, can you believe i am not much of a fan. i have jeard every body saying this and that about it but the fact that i have not explored it really makes my taste for it biased. my sister is now exploring every british food there is so i told her to share everything she have when she arrived here on december (she is a culinary student in finland) you made me hungry reading all those tasty words LOL i think after watching the movie "ratatouille" makes me want to try it, some day! speaking of ratatouille, have you ever have it? watching it in cartoons makes me want to try it but have no luck to see it yet. i dont want to try making it on my own as i dont know what it really taste like so id rather wait till i have it in a fine french restaurant (but the fact that my husband dont like it make it impossible) so i know if mine is better or not. i often try to do my own thing after having it in a restaurant so i know that i am doing the right thing - strange me! haha, so you are multi one! i think that is a leverage for making a better meal. have you tried making indian or Mediterranean cusine? i love their food so i am more to them but my hubby loves italian the most, oh well btw, one of my mexican specialty is burritos, i havent made it for a year now so i might do that tomorrow. have a great evening!
snowy
@snowy22315 (170542)
• United States
23 Jul 08
I like to cook. sometimes things turn out well and sometimes they dont. I made crabcakes on Sunday that were really pretty good. My hubby loves my meatloaf. Sometimes though I just try stuff and am stuck eating it whether it is good or not. I tried making this soup that was in this veg. cookbook, not good. I had to pour most of it out.
ladym33
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
23 Jul 08
I love to cook. I will try pretty much anything. I have mastered Chinese cooking Italian, and Mexican cooking. I plan to take on French cuisine next. I also like to make recipes my own. The first time I make something I will follow the recipe exactly but the next time I will make it my way. I also love to create my own things too.
jairgirl
@jairgirl (2877)
• United States
24 Jul 08
hello ladym, great to see you here. wow! you have mastered them, i wish i can be the same i am still on the process of learning out. i have tried all of the once you mention and i am pretty happy about it. i am in the process of learning how to make my indian cuisine better (i love their dishes) and Mediterranean as well. i am not much of a fun of french cuisine but i know a lot loves 'em, i guess part of it is because my hubby dont like it and i will just end up eating my cooking if i do cook one. but i am hoping to learn anything there is. yup! making your own thing is quite refreshing in my opinion so i enjoy coming up my own most of the time specially if it ends up something that my husband enjoy. i hope you learn a lot of french meal and hope someday you can share it with us. good luck!