Unfortunately, I've never really felt comfortable in the kitchen, for a variety of reasons. When I was in high school, I was responsible for a few dinners every week, so I did learn my way around a kitchen, becoming at the very least passable at making such things as meatloaf, chicken breasts, and boxes and boxes of hamburger helper. (boy, did my brother DJ and I think that was tasty at the time -- mmmm, cheeseburger macaroni!)
And, of course, after I met the Husbear I spent even less time in the kitchen. Most of the recipes I could make were rather meaty (see above) and he's a vegetarian. Plus, he really enjoys cooking, where I really don't, so much, so I had no problem backing almost entirely out of the kitchen and letting him do his thing. This isn't to say I don't like helping, but I get really stressed if the meal-planning falls to me. Oy.
So, now he has this job at Enoteca, which is taking him out of the house for the majority of the week, so I'm once again responsible for feeding myself. I've learned that it's really no fun cooking for one!
Here's one thing I came up with:
Though it does look pretty good (braised pork chop with gravy and lightly sauteed spinach with garlic) it was unfortunately gross. The pork chop itself was ok, juicy but not particularly flavorful, but the gravy taught me a lesson - don't make gravy by reducing veggie bouillon cubes with water. guh. It was way, way too salty. I might try the recipe again with actual broth, but not any time soon.
The spinach was all right, if a little slimy in texture. Maybe I needed to cook it a little longer, to get all the water out? Good garlicky flavor, though.
I'm not discouraged, though - I'm going to keep at it. A year from now, maybe you'll be reading about how I put together a caviar and fois gras based dinner party for 12 with my hands tied behind my back. Yeah, unlikely, but a girl can dream, right?
girlie(pants)
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