Thursday, January 1, 2009

Welcome!

“Do you like to cook?” It’s an easy enough question, and yet somehow I’m always slightly stumped. I do like to cook—I can make a mean Chicken Francais with Basmati Pilaf, and I enjoy browsing the aisles of markets like Whole Foods, seeking out new and unique ingredients. However, the entirety of my recipe repertoire exists to answer one question: Can it be made in under an hour? I even have a lasagna recipe which does not require one to cook the noodles before popping it into the oven.

The truth is, while I do enjoy cooking, I love to bake. However, I think there’s more to my passion for pastries than the amount of labor involved, as some desserts can be quite complicated. My own personal philosophy is that all people fall into one of three categories: Salty, Sour, or Sweet. I am a Sweet person. Try this for yourself: Picture yourself at a movie theatre concession stand. Which treat do you routinely leap for? Popcorn and nachos? Sour Patch Kids and Lemonheads? Snow Caps and Chocolate-covered Raisins?

I suppose I should have realized this sooner. One peek in my kitchen cupboards reveals that while I have 2 skillets, 2 pots and one measly casserole dish for cooking, I have a virtual battery of pie plates, cookie sheets, cake pans, muffin pans, bundt pans, springform pans, tart pans and even one of those miniature blow torches for perfectly crusted crème brulees. So, I like to bake—Why blog about it? Well, I’m hoping that by creating a blog to follow my baking exploits it will give me just the encouragement I need to dive into all the baking projects I’ve always wanted to undertake. I’m also hoping that this blog will inspire others that might be afraid to take the baking plunge by showing how easy it truly can be—I do not own a stand mixer, I generally eschew even a hand mixer, and I have never used a “dough hook.” I look forward to exploring regional dessert favorites, exotic dishes from around the world, seasonal specialties and classic stand-bys. I plan to post all of my recipes and look forward to suggestions and stories from all of you. I hope you’ll join me in my virtual kitchen!

P.S. The above photo is to prove that I can cook on occasion :) This is one of my more adventurous meals: A Moroccan-inspired lemon chicken and couscous with chickpea tagine.

1 comment:

  1. Welcome to the world of food blogging. Hope you love it as much as I do. Thanks for stopping by mine! Btw - I am a salty popcorn girl all the way.

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