In the Kitchen - Part 1

Trying to come up with meals that my husband and children will eat is a trying business.  I will eat anything.  My mother would hardly believe it - I was a bit of a picky eater as a kid and growing up.  But I digress....   I will eat anything, my husband is a steak and potatoes kind of guy and then there are my children.  At 5 1/2 and 4 years of age, you could say they are a bit picky.

So it's a challenge  I like to cook, but I am not a creative cook.  I need recipes.  I have boxes and folders of recipes!  To be honest, I stick to what I know and what everyone likes most of the time, but I do like to try new things - thanks to my mother's influence.

I learned a lot from my mother, especially in the kitchen.  She taught me all sorts of fun tricks (like a teaspoon of salt is about the size of  the cup of your palm) but mostly, she taught me the importance of quality cookware.  Pots, pans and knives, particularly   One day, at my brother's house, I was stunned to find out that my sister-in-law bought my brother (the cook in that family) a new set of knives EVERY YEAR!  Every year?  I couldn't believe it.  I have had one of my Wusthof knives for 12 years!  And it is still in perfect condition.


Oh, and I miss my Professional-Grade Calphalon set like you wouldn't believe.  My father got it for me 12 years ago, when I bought my condo.  That set finally had to be replaced and although I replaced it with a really nice stainless steel set, the calphalon was so much better.

Cooking can be fun, but just like with any job, you have to have the right tools.  So, if you hate cooking or find it to be a chore, make sure you have the right tools and some help by the way of good recipes, so you can enjoy your time in the kitchen.