Feb 4, 2010

Dear Reader,

It has been a month now since I was left with a stocked pantry, a stocked freezer, a stocked spice rack, Calphalon cookware and America's Test Kitchen cookbook. And Lulu. 

I thought I really should do something with these things, and I also really wanted to take control of my health. 

At this point, I can't even remember the first meal I made in the incredible cooking extravaganza of 2010, but  I can give you an update on what's happened so far. 

I decided to embark on this journey for one simple reason. It wasn't to have something to blog about. It wasn't to lose weight. It wasn't even to learn to cook. I literally started to have an emotional reaction to eating food that I'd prepared from scratch. It felt like I was taking care of myself in a way that I never had before. 

So far, I've made beef stew, Bolognese sauce, pizza dough, lemon chicken, pasta with chicken and broccoli, chicken stew, corn chowder, and chocolate mousse. 

The corn chowder didn't work out. Not even close, it isn't an easy thing, but I'll try it again one day. This is the only thing I threw out. What can I say, it was that bad. The corn wasn't cooked, it was watery, had no taste and no consistency. And, I even started out with real corn on the cob, too! I even removed the husk thingys myself! 

This week, I'm making my own pesto, my own oatmeal cookies and chicken piccata. 

I'll let you know how it works!

Jo