I always thought I couldn't cook. I could follow a recipe, but I couldn't decide what to put together without one. Or, if I didn't have the exact ingredients listed in the recipe, I couldn't figure out what to substitute. And I was always panicky when trying a new recipe, "Is this right? Is that how it's supposed to look? How long until the chicken is cooked? Is that onion "sweated?" How translucent should the onions be?"
Now, a cookbook has changed my life.
After watching
Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution last year, I was intrigued and inspired by his love of natural, wholesome ingredients, and also by his confidence that anyone can cook if they just try. For Christmas, I asked for
Jamie's Food Revolution cookbook, and my cooking world has changed forever! This book is so empowering and inspiring for an inexperienced cook like me. I love that the measurements are often logical instead of precise - like, "add a few good lugs of olive oil," instead of add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, or "2 medium onions," instead of 1 1/2 cups chopped onion. It's already made me feel less stressed about whether these veggies will yield the correct total required by the recipe.
I've made delicious, fresh stir fries, cheesy pasta, beautiful fresh veggie dishes, and gorgeous roasts. I've even made Yorkshire puddings several times, and they are so tasty with gravy! Here are just a few of the dishes I've made thus far:
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| Salmon Stir Fry |
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| Salmon Stir Fry up close - Fresh and Tasty! |
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| Close up of Chicken Korma Curry - before garnish! |
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| Chicken Korma Curry |
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| Chicken Korma Curry - light, fluffy rice and delicious mild curry | ! |
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| Yorkshire puddings - a pile of awesome! |
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| Pudding full of gravy - so tasty! |
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| Roast Lamb Dinner - veggies, pudding, and lamb! |
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| Roasted Root Vegetables and Mint Sauce (for the lamb) |
We also love the Shrimp and Avocado with Marie Rose Sauce recipe, and the Steamed Salmon with broccoli, but I need to use my new, not-Extra Dark soy sauce the next time I make it. It should make the sauce look a little more appetizing!
I hope to include more reviews and pictures of my new recipes on this blog as I make them in future.
Yay you! That chicken curry stuff was deeeeeelicious! When things die down here with wedding stuff (June wedding... at the house... oy vey), we will have to start hanging out more again. PLUS Doctor Who is coming back again, so maybe we'll have viewing parties here since we got Rachel and Draper into it! hehe AND I am still dying to try the pea and mint soup from your cookbook. BUT we are currently renovating our kitchen. WHICH is a wreck. hahaha AND I miss you and am excited to stalk- er- follow your blog! teehee
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, salmon stirfry. I am drooling.
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