Incoherent Scribblings

I have always liked to cook, but I will admit that when I was living with A. it got rather tedious. He was interested in the eating part, but was less than helpful when asked for suggestions as to what to cook. As a result, the entire burden of feeding us fell upon me and after a couple of years I was so fed up with being the only one to plan our menus that I began to dread the whole experience.

I was so tired of cooking that for the entire year that I lived with my mom I barely cooked at all. Every once in a while I would have a craving for my spaghetti or one of my other specialties and I would volunteer, but for the most part I was happy to let Mom do the cooking.

However, as time progressed I began to miss cooking and as the job prospects began to look up I began scouring the thrift stores in search of the basics that I would need when I finally had my own kitchen again.

I purchased an Armstrong knife set and couldn’t pass up the pasta maker when the little old ladies offered to sell it to me for a dollar. I bought a set of dishes for eight at a yard sale and Mom found a complete set of silverware at the consignment store where she works. I knew that once I moved my cupboards would be bare for a while, but I looked forward to filling the shelves with the types of kitchen accessories that I had always wanted.

Yes, there have been some frustrating moments in my new kitchen when culinary inspiration was paired with the realization that I lack ingredients or equipment, but my pantry is slowly accumulating the essentials and with each paycheck I replace those things that I left behind.

And someday soon when I am overcome with the desire to pull out the pasta maker and make ravioli just for fun, I will be able to do it.

Yeah, yeah I know I am supposed to post this on Friday, but I didn’t come across it until today.

Besides, it is my blog and I will post when I want to!

1.) Do you enjoy cooking? Why/why not? How about baking? Do you do most of the cooking in your household, or does someone else? How often do you go out to eat (or order in) in a typical week?

I am the resident chef in my household. I barely trust A. to boil water and I prefer that he stay out of my kitchen. I enjoy cooking, but only when I am in the mood. Since I am not in the mood very often we usually go out to eat at least once a week. I love to bake cookies, cakes, brownies, and pies but I don’t do it very often because there are only two people to eat all of those goodies and they will go straight to our hips!

2.) Do you have any dishes (or desserts, or beverages, or whatever) that you consider your “specialty?” Did you create the recipe yourself, from scratch? How often do you make this dish?

Since moving to Germany I have done a lot of recipe experimentation because I have had to find substitutes for things that are not as widely available here. In addition to that, I am a pretty picky eater and so I never follow a recipe to the letter. If I don’t like an ingredient called for I leave it out or substitute something I know I like.

From all of this experimentation have come some dishes that I do consider my specialties and those recipes were created from scratch. Both A. and I are so fond of my “Mixed Meat Burgers” (a compilation of a variety of Greek burger recipes) that on average I make them once a week.

blondelibrarian’s Mixed Meat Burgers:

All measurements are approximate since I seldom measure anything! Makes 2-4 burgers

250g (about ½ lb.) mixed meat (ground pork and beef)
1 t oregano
1 t garlic powder
1 t onion powder
¼ t salt
pepper (to taste)
1 egg
¼ cup bread crumbs
1 T Water
Feta Cheese (crumbled)

1. Combine all ingredients
2. Form into patties
3. Grill
4. Serve with French fries and Tzatiki

3.) Have you ever taken any cooking classes? If not, what type(s) of cooking class would you most like to take? Do you ever watch the Food TV Network? What are your favorite shows on there?

I have never taken a cooking class, but I have thought about taking one to learn how to cook Indian food. We don’t get Food TV in Germany.

4.) What’s something quick and easy that you like to just throw together when you aren’t in a cooking mood at all?

When I am not in the mood to cook, I tend to throw a pork chop on the grill for A. and make a double batch of fries. Other times I make Kaiserschmarrn, an Austrian pancake that is very similar to a crépe that I learned to make from A.’s mom. (I am sure the French would be insulted to hear the comparison, but it’s true!)

Kaiserschmarrn:

1 egg
1 cup milk
1 T sugar
dash salt
about 1 cup flour

Blend ingredients on medium speed in order given. (Batter should be thin.) Preheat skillet with 1 t oil over med-high heat. Pour one ladle-full of batter onto skillet and cook about 2 minutes on each side until pancakes are golden brown. (It may be necessary to turn heat down to medium. When pancake appears dry it is time to turn in over.) Makes about 4 pancakes. Serve warm with powdered sugar and fruit or Nutella.

5.) What is your favorite kitchen appliance? Is your kitchen generally well stocked with equipment? Describe your kitchen to us ~ what it looks like, what’s on the counters, etc.

I think my favorite kitchen appliance would have to be my dishwasher! I hate to do the dishes! I also really like my mini food processor too…

I would say that I have about every kitchen appliance that I want, I have a cupboard full of herbs and spices, and I keep the non-perishable items that I tend to use on hand so that I when I am in the mood to cook, I can!

For a European kitchen, mine is pretty big. Most kitchens here are not built in, but we were lucky and found an apartment with a refrigerator, stove, oven, sink, and cupboards that were. The refrigerator is very small though, so since we had room we bought a second one. All of those things, along with the dishwasher are along one wall. I have a “portable” counter and the table along the other wall and still we have room to walk through. My kitchen isn’t always as clean as it should be and is usually cluttered, but I don’t think that reflects badly one me: It is only a sign that I actually use it!

Now, let’s eat!