January 9th, 2009 by Chris Eng

Well, my goal to get better at cooking has gotten off to a good start. On New Year’s Eve, I thought I’d celebrate by making dinner for Carla (an event that happens much too infrequently). So, early on in the evening we went to the seemingly only supermarket in the city that was open (the SuperValu at 1st and Commercial) and I picked out some ingredients. We trundled them home in the snow and with just a little bit of effort I managed to put this together:

It's chorizo, zucchini, mushrooms and peppers in a tomato sauce served over rice, with oysters. I did the actual cooking but Carla hung out and helped me with the fiddly bits, like how to get the best results when frying sausage, which spices to add, and at which points to put in what vegetables. Those are the things which (in many ways) simply require memorization and which I don't have the background or experience to know. For instance, putting the zucchini in at the beginning (I did not do this) will give you a main course that is, for want of a more perfect phrase, seriously friggin’ gross-ass. Carla knows all that back to front and was happy to impart her wisdom.

And when all was said and done, it ended up pretty damn good, if I do say so myself. Still pot/pan food is kind of what I’m good at already. If it can be chopped it up and simmered on the stovetop, I can improvise with it and come up with something tasty (even if I do need advice now and then), so I wasn’t really stretching my wings too much with this one. What is really daunting to me, and which will be the focus of my next personal challenges, is the range. I want to start making broiled and baked things, both sweet and savoury. I’m going to start with a cake this month. I’ve never made a cake before and I figure it’s a good introduction to baking. I’m sure I’ll move on to gougères and spanakopita next month.

While we’re on the subject, though, I did make my first loaf of bread the other day. Okay okay, it was in the bread maker, but still—first loaf! And edible! Tasty, edible bread! At home! In, like, ten minutes (of prep time)! And I don’t have to bug Carla to do it! No, it’s not like it was ever a complicated procedure, but it’s one of those things that you have to be shown and I just never quite got around to asking. But I’m on the cooking path now and I will work my magic with the bread maker. And someday… someday I will make bread without it!

But, y’know, in the meantime I’ll whip up some cake.