Yes You CAN Cook - Update

The recent popular movie Julie/Julia informed me that I was a servantless American cook .. Gosh I did not know what I was missing.   However,  it's been awhile since I encouraged people to cook at home (with or without servants) instead of buying prepackaged frozen foods or eating out.  I thought I would encourage people again to eat in and eat better during these challenging times.

I began to seriously think about cooking at home off and on last year.  And a good thing too, because by the time I had learned a bit and begun to put some infrastructure in place to cook, the company I worked for let me go for a few months, and then now later has hired me back.

This gave me the time and the incentive to learn more about cooking and eating! 

Now that I am working (more than full time) sometimes cooking at home is challenging.  But I thought I would share a few thoughts and points:

- Cooking basic meals at home takes more time than you might want, but it is often far less time than you might imagine.  One can often swing SOMETHING together in about 30 minutes or less.

- For me, eating out is about the food and the buzz - so eating at home is doubly difficult.  But with only some effort I often make better than resturant good food.  The internet is your friend.  Also Rachel Ray can be inspirational.  Stay away from Julia Child for now.  Even the Joy of Cooking is a bit too challenging for the level of cooking we are discussing.  We want good, easy to cook , FOOD!

- You do have to have a BASIC infrastructure that you can grow.  Most people have that, some do not.   Many people don't use the range, oven, fridge and freezer they've got.  (if you have less than that it is challenging, but things can be done)  Its really rough if all you have is a hot plate, a pot, and some cans. but even from there things can grow.

- And you have to start building up some tools.  Pyrex cups, a small pot, larger pot, fry pan, silverware, plates.  Crock pots are awesome.  Microwaves are awesome This will add up over time.  Get what you need.  And the thrift stores, over time, often will have what you need appear.  Also look for sales.   I got my first microwave free.  When it burnt up I got my second for $15.   I got a toaster for $2, a crock pot for $8, a bread machine for $15, various iron skillets for $5 to $7 each.    Most of this from Goodwill, willing partners. sometimes Walmart.  Even right tonight, Walmart had crockpots for $15 (which is down $10 from last year)

- And check the store for sales - you can freeze meat and some vegies and fruits w/o fancy blanching techniques.  Also canned goods and soup when on sale sometimes is a better investment than in the bank - if you and yours will eat it.  For example tonight at Walmart I "scored" some campells soup at 50% off.  And I do NOT coupon.  If you do, more power to you. some save LOTS by couponing.

- When you make your own food - sometimes the tastes are richer, sometimes much richer.  This was a big surprise to me.  I worried for awhile - was I making Ice tea correctly? beans often need more grease and salt than you would think - but again less is better. soups have real onion, garlic, vegies, and no mystery meat.

- If its really bad - most of us don't have to eat it.  really!

- And try to keep the stress low.
I cooked thanksgiving dinner for the first time - and I was surprised how easy it was an how low key.  I remember so many stressed-out thanksgiving dinners I cannot count them.

what were the secrets?

- I bought a 6 lb turkey breast pre-thawed.
   I skipped the stuffing.
   I nesled it in a bag of frozen vegies. and cut up 1 onion.
   I poured some peanut oil over it, added some garlic powder, some salt, some 5 spice can called it done.
      later someone added sage and thyme and I am uncertain if it were better.
  Bake for about 3 hrs at 325.

- Microwaved the "baked" potatoes.
- cranberries came from a can.
- blueberries came from a can (regreted opening them, but they were good)
- cooked two pumpkin pies the night before, bought a pecan pie
  all done - no stress on turkey day.
  1 hour to cook the pumpkin, about 15 min of prep to make pumpkin custard, 1.5 hours to bake at 325F.
   no watching. beep done.
- greens came from a can. I found a brand I like.
-  crock-potted a 5 lb ham in a 5 quart crock pot.
  put 1 onion in 2 cups boiling water, and 1 clove garlic for  broth.
  had a metal steamer to keep the ham above the water
 crock pot on high for 3+  hours
- put corn bread in the other crock pot
 should have baked for 2 hours.
 thew it out.

Meal took about 1 hr to prep, maybe less. Meal came together in about 3 hours of sitting around.
unfortunatly it was delayed an hour more.
bird was fine, ham was a little dry but we got the good stuff, corn bread was disposable.

Cleanup was the hard part - took about 30 minutes or so plus or minus.

Now a few days later,
- froze the turkey and ham broth and extra turkey, ham, and pie.

-Bon

Stephen

ps: This is the Julie/Julia Project Blog that inspired the movie http://blogs.salon.com/0001399/2002/08/25.html