I am not particularly elegant in the kitchen.
Let's just be honest, I don't even really like to cook. One of my staple ingredients is Velvetta, and I get flustered trying to get microwaved peas to the table at the same time as the spaghetti. I am certainly no gourmet chef, although the way I watch the Food Network you'd think I was the next Iron Chef in training.
But, despite my proficiency with a can opener and not much else, I have a profound weakness for classic cookbooks. I can walk past a book store clearance rack full of generic and trendy books about pasta, cookies, and easy indian food, but I have fallen completely under the spell of those thick, elegant, beautifully-bound books from culinary power-houses such as Martha Stewart, Betty Crocker, and Williams-Sonoma.
Which is why my heart skipped a beat when I saw this Williams-Sonoma Cookbook on the book sale shelf at the library... for $3.00. Full of recipes with awe-inspiring names like "Seafood & Sausage Paella", "Crown Roast of Pork with Baby Vegetable Stuffing", and "Duck Lasagne with Chianti Wine Sauce", it's like gourmet cooking school for under five bucks. And because of my extensive knowledge of at least the language of chef-dom, (thanks to the afformentioned cable network) I feel like this time, just maybe, I might actually know what I'm doing when I pick up a roasting pan.
All this does not change the fact, however, that my contribution to Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma's house this year is 3 quarts of gravy, which is ready to be picked up from carryout at the Hartville Kitchen at 4:00 this afternoon.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks for the enjoyable and inspiring post, Ellie. If I may, I'd like to recommend the America's Test Kitchen Cookbook. My culinary skills have greatly improved since the acquisition of this gem of a cookbook! It takes a little getting used to, but I now make a ravishing Roast Chicken, excellent Enchiladas and awesome Apple Pie. Even Pete McIntyre cooks like a top-notch chef now that he owns the book! It's totally worth the $30! Man, I sound like an infomercial! Anyway, HAPPY THANKSGIVING! We miss you guys a lot; I hope that Lincoln treats you well! Love, Ginger
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ReplyDeleteI completely agree; a good cookbook can transform someone into a chef! I was never a big fan of cooking until I discovered a fantastic cookbook that sparked my love. I started experimenting with different recipes, and cooking quickly became my therapy. Now, I cook so much that I often get lost in the process and forget about everything else, even my assignments! That's when I turned to US Assignment Helper to hire engineering homework experts and keep up with my schoolwork.
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