Monday, November 05, 2007

I'm no Beck, but I aspire to be...someday

I'm always so inspired by Beck's foodie posts (she also hosts a Kitchen Party on the Canadian Urban Mom site). I want to try new recipes and be that mom who's always got a casserole in the oven and a yummy dessert to finish out the meal. I want to the Martha Stewart of League City, churning out adorable cupcakes and awe-inspiring decorations in a fraction of the time she and her staff must spend. And I'd probably try my hand at it if it weren't for a couple of little road blocks.

The biggest among them is the fact that I've decided to focus my spare time on my writing--to give it a shot and see where it leads. Maybe after a while the frustration will get to me, but not yet. So for now, my partner in crime is the computer, rather than the stove. Another impediment to my culinary exploration is my family. They're very picky. I've posted my husband's many and varied Fear-Factoresque food aversions, and the two boys are about on par with that. Then there's my own squeamishness over starting something--and paying for something--that's just going to end up in the trash. So you can see why we rotate the same fifteen or so meals through our monthly menus.

But!...last week I did try a new recipe. I made Ginger Pear Muffins from scratch!

And...wait for it...nobody in my house liked them.

So I took the whole bag of remaining muffins to my mom's house, and it seems my grandmother loves them! Success!

Next experimentation scheduled for two months hence.

11 comments:

Stacy said...

I am no Beck either. I cook about once every two months. Culinary skills are overrated. :)

Vicki said...

I love to cook but SG is very picky and so cooking has become a very simple process in my home.

The muffins sound great though!!

Beck said...

Oh, I'm sorry about the muffin rejection. That stings, doesn't it? A friend of mine has two EXTREMELY PICKY little boys, both of whom have severe food allergies too and she keeps them creatively and well fed - I think she NEEDS to start a food blog!
And you don't want to be me. I'm lazy.

Barrie said...

This is what I have discovered about cooking and my family: the more complicated the recipe, the fewer people will like it!

Along with my computer, I am embracing my crockpot. I might even ask for a bigger one for Christmas. :)

p.s. I have discovered a crockpot stew that EVERYONE in my family will eat! Let me know if you want the recipe. It's pretty simple.

Anonymous said...

Mr Sally enjoys telling everyone what a bad cook I am. I am ashamed to say he does most of the cooking... I'm trying to get better though.
The muffins sound great, I've never even attempted to make one in my life!

x

Unknown said...

Stacy's right...culinary skills are overated! I only make a few dishes very well. The only problem with that is that I tend to make them over and over again to where Jason's like, "Meatloaf again?!" Hee...

By the way, I finally got around to doing that 8 Random Things meme that you tagged me for! Hooray for procrastination! :)

Unknown said...

I never seem to do any baking anymore. I'm always in front of the computer. Thankfully, my husband is a cooking machine!!

Stephanie J said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Stephanie J said...

Oh gawd, what I wouldn't give to be able to cook! I can bake, tho, so at least that's something.

Do you think food pickiness is genetic? That's one thing I fear...DBF is so picky about some things and I don't know what I'd do.

Also, here's an easy recipe (weight watchers! I had no clue for the longest time!) You take a box of chocolate cake mix (fat-free if doing WW) and then a can of pumpkin which is readily available at this time of the year...mix together...bake at time and temp of cake package...and voila! Chocolate Pumpkin muffins. They're thick, but if you like those two ingredients they're a good and easy after-school thing to make. I think you can also try it with white cake mix although I haven't done it yet

Alyssa Goodnight said...

That recipe sounds pretty yummy, Stephanie--and easy too--perfect, thanks!

Barrie,
I need to get a new crockpot too and I'd love the recipe for your family-favorite stew!

Barrie said...

I tried a new chicken crockpot recipe last night. And...I am the ONLY one who liked it! :( It was totally delicious. I don't understand its unpopularity. I will be having chicken in my salad for the next few days...