Friday 17 February 2012

Stuff I Need

One thing I realised, shortly after lowering last week's egg into boiling water, was that I did not own an egg cup.  Making a boiled egg otherwise went as planned, but only because I discovered that a shot glass works as a servicable substitute for an egg cup. 

It's not uncommon that when I look at a recipe (or sometimes when I am half way through attempting to follow a recipe) I find that I don't have a requisite item.  It seems that cooking requires an awful lot of stuff.  I have so far survived with just basic cutlery and crockery, a couple of pans and a small baking tray.  I think that's about it.

I don't know what I do need, but I have a feeling it might be a lot.  I know I want a casserole dish, because I'd like to have a go at gratin dauphinois sometime, and I was reading a nice sounding simple recipe which involved a blender (here), but would I use it much?

Anyway, I have made something very simple based on that recipe but which doesn't involve blending anything.  I've roasted vegetables in the past but one their own they're not very filling, so I have roasted red peppers and onion and intend to serve them with cous cous.

The linked recipes suggests thyme, which is good, because another problem I have is that I forget about herbs and other things to make the food more exciting, and so I end up with bland and unappetizing food.   I should make a point of exploring herbs and spices.  They are definitely one thing I do need to add to my collection.

Wednesday 8 February 2012

A Confession

I have reached the age of 27 without ever having boiled an egg.

This is clearly terrible, and my egglessness is symptomatic of a more general failure to learn how to cook.  I've made a few attempts to rectify my woeful culinary inadequacy, but they have always ended with  something both unappetising and disheartening.

A friend of mine has commented that I have a "bizzare relationship with food" in that I don't really like thinking about it and only ever eat because if I didn't I'd die.   This assessment is entirely fair and accurate.  If I never had to eat again, I would not be upset.  I'm not enthusiastic about food, and this is how I've managed to get to this point in my life having only ever really used the toaster, the kettle and the microwave (although I do own an oven, as one can't put store-bought pizzas in the toaster). 

However, it seems as if I am going to have to keep on eating whether I want to or not, and now I'm resigned to that I may as well eat something interesting.  I will concede that if I were to broaden my repertoire I might enjoy food a bit more, so here goes.  I'm going to cook something I've never cooked before every week and write about it here.

I'm not sure if boiling an egg counts as cooking as such, but for today it will have to do.  It is one of the few things, after all, which I'm fairly confident I could do if I set my mind to it.  For now, baby steps.