When I was a kid I never really dabbled in much cooking. Actually you could say that the most my sister and I did was trying to make our own dough and pizza in the toaster oven. My dad always ate them, even though they were as hard as rocks. He made us feel like we were the best cooks in the world. But I never really thought much about actually cooking. I wanted to be a teacher.
Throughout high school, I didn't really care if I took a home ec class, or anything like that. I worked at Olive Garden as a hostess and sometimes in the kitchen. In college I stayed the course of wanted to become a teacher, but decided to major in English. When college didn't work out for me I went back to the OG. I started cooking in the kitchen and realized how much fun it was. But again, I didn't get too into it, just followed what I was supposed to do. Not really reading the recipes, just doing what I was supposed to.
I went off and got married and realized that a wife should cook for her husband. As James will tell anyone, he did what my dad did to me as a kid. Pretended to like my cooking without really a complaint. I don't know how he ate it though...looking back. Poor guy. But that's love right? But I found that the more I messed around in the kitchen, the more I enjoyed myself. I would take all of the leftovers from the fridge and make them a new stew, or soup. James would love the leftovers as the new dish (not that he liked them alone...hahaha).
We had the kids, and I tried to cook more...getting cookbooks. I started out with easy, basic cookbooks. Then I moved on to more advanced ones. I was getting better, and people were starting to compliment my food. No longer was I the one that had to bring a store bought dish, or a tub of butter to a party. I was now actually allowed to bring food! Seeing that people liked my food was giving me the confidence to keep going. My waist line was asking me to back up,but I proceeded without caution. I was a good cook now!
Well, a little over a year ago, James and I decided that my good cooking was causing us to need new clothes, and not in a good way. So I changed my course again. I decided that delishish cooking did not need to be fattening. I would test this theory out (in secret) on my friends and family. I started with dessert (that is hard to tell the difference in.) I started making pies lower fat and not telling anyone. Everyone started asking for my Peanut Butter Pie recipe, when I would tell them it was weight watchers they didn't believe it! So I became obsessed!
Obsessed with turning everyday food into healthy alternatives. But in this obsession it brought out a giant obsession with food in general! I started making "mock" chili. With soy crumbles, and fresh peppers and tomatoes. I started making sweet potato fries in place of french fries. And I bake them. I've been making my own spice rub and coating veggies with them. All organic and all fresh. Well, last night my obsession made my family squint and hold their noses. They did NOT want to try my latest...James walked into the kitchen and said, "What are you doing and can I help?" I was so excited...my foodieness was rubbing off...yea maybe not. So I told James to mix in the ingredients for me. First some light butter, then some brown sugar, then some sliced strawberries. He seemed very excited. Then some balsamic vinegar. "Wait what??? Did you say vinegar?" His look told the whole story. I said, "Just wait, you'll see." So we let it cook down and poured it over ice cream. They all stared at me waiting for me to try it first. I took a bite. Oh man it was good. They all stared and then took a bite. Everyone loved it!
Now that I've convinced my family maybe this obsession will take off. Maybe culinary school. Maybe local classes. Who knows! Only time...and our waist lines...will tell!
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