Kitchen Adventures
Last week I moved into a new place with my fiance, away from the ease and comforts of both our moms’ delicious home-cooked meals. While the entire process of packing, moving, and un-packing brings many interesting adventures of its own, I am quickly finding that being in the kitchen is proving to be the most intriguing of all. Thankfully, with the help of some great books from the library, I am no longer afraid to navigate through my very own kitchen. Over the weekend I unpacked a box of handy kitchen gadgets and utensils, and if it wasn’t for the book Anyone Can Cook, I still wouldn’t know what a garlic press is or what I was supposed to do with it!
Last night I also cooked (without a microwave!) for the first time ever, which was quite exciting. While I had a most basic and general idea of what I needed to cook, I had no idea how to actually get started. Oil? Water? High heat? Medium heat? Is it veggies first or meat first? The Elephant Walk Cookbook, a wonderful cookbook dedicated to Cambodian cuisine, helped me through the rest of my stovetop exploration. Whether you're a brand-new, first-time newbie in the kitchen or a seasoned culinary expert looking to add some fresh, unique Asian flair for your cooking, this cookbook is a must-have.
Even though I missed some ingredients and my noodles turned out a little soggy, dinner was still an overall success (and deliciously edible!). I still had a lot of fun in the kitchen and my experience made me appreciate even more the amazing cooking powers of Mom, among the many other things she can do. I'll be sure to thank my mom especially on this Mother's Day coming up on Sunday, May 11th, and don't you forget to do the same!