By SheelaR

I’ve been trying to learn how to cook. I’ve mastered a few things. I can finally cook pasta al dente. Whew! That took a minute. I’m struggling with meat. Mostly those of a thicker cut. I spent many years as a vegetarian and vegan, so meat is proving to be a challenge. The smell and feel of raw meat is a huge impediment. However, I shall press on. I love rice and pasta, so I’ve been experimenting with dishes that feature them. I prefer brown rice, but it’s harder to cook and not as universal as white rice. I learned that the hard way 🙂 I would love to learn how to make fresh bread. However, the basics come first. As you can see, I’m a carb junkie.

I’ve also learned that you can’t mix some pastas. Learned that the hard way too. Thicker pastas, such as penne, doesn’t cook as fast as rotini. I only know this because I didn’t have enough penne and through some rotini in the pot as a filler. I’ve amassed a collection of recipes that I’d like to try. Most of them are fairly simple and quick to make. I quickly lose my patience with complicated dishes that require a lot of ingredients and time to make, but only because I’m a bit of a perfectionist and I want success quickly.

I made some mini quiches for a ladies lunch and they turned out well. Instead of a crust made with dough, I found recipe that called for hash browns. Everyone raved about them. A hugely proud moment in my life. I could not stop grinning. I’m no domestic diva, but I do aspire to resemble one. We should all have some basic cooking skills and since I absolutely love to eat, learning to cook is necessary. No one will ever confuse or compare me to Martha Stewart, but they’ll be proud of my efforts.