Cooking Confidence
...written on 09.04.03, @ 11:09 a.m.
Thu September 4, 2003
This past week I have spent a bazillion yen in outfitting my cupboards and refrigerator with Japanese condiments and delectables. Min and I eat together a lot, so I have cracked open my Japanese home cooking books and have been experimenting.
The other day however, I tried something different. I cooked some dishes from the Dominican Republic. I made sauteed eggplant, black beans in coconut milk, chicken in tomato sauce, rice and custard with caramel sauce. It was very labor intensive to say the least.
I tested it while it was cooking and I thought it would be great, but come dinner time, it wasn't as tasty. Perhaps it was Min's mood or the conversation, anyway Min made a valiant effort, but I just picked at it.
The next day at lunch however, it won outstanding reviews from my friend and Japanese teacher, Takako. We had just gotten back from a trip to the grocery store where I had Takako explain many things, how to store pickles, which fish was fresh, which was salty, which tofu was used for what, which sauce was used with what dish, etc. Min called while we were at the store and I invited him to join us for lunch at my place and I bought a Japanese lunch for him.
Yesterday I made 'niku jaga', which is meat and potatoes sauteed with ginger, soy sauce, sake and sugar. It was pretty good. I also made miso soup using real dried fish flakes and konbu (seaweed) for broth instead of the dried instant broth. Yummy!
All of this is really a big step for me. I have been cooking only for myself for a long time. This means lots of instant and/or very simple dishes for I usually wait until I am famished to cook and by then I'm not picky.
I'm also a bit of a klutz in the kitchen. I can't even crack an egg with confidence and rely heavily on recipe books and measuring implements since my gourmet intuition is sub-nil.
However, I feel that with practice I will get better and I am enjoying cooking up traditional things for us. Min is very supportive and while the food sometimes may not be delicious, he always compliments me on my pioneer spirit.
Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!