I wanted to share something that has made my life a lot easier in the kitchen. I have a notebook that I call my "Kitchen Notebook". I keep it handy when I am cooking. I was never very confident in my abilities as a cook. I never really like a long recipe and the fact I never cooked a meal before I married added to my level of frustration. This is the main reason why my children are learning valuable lessons around the home like how to do laundry, how to run a home, cook, clean, budget, etc.
FoodNetwork has helped build my confidence in my abilities in the kitchen. I also love watching my favorite chefs cook without benefit of a recipe, at least that we can see.
Well there is one guy that I also love to watch on the Discovery Home Channel that never uses a recipe. His name is Michael Smith and his show is called "Chef at Home" This guy is great! He encourages you to keep a kitchen notebook. He writes down what he creates in a notebook he keeps nearby when he is cooking. He is inspiring to watch and his show has become a favorite of mine and a few of my children. I found that I was always creating things on the fly after work and on the times when I really hit it out of the ballpark with a home run, I never could remember everything I had put into the dish.
Many times lately my sixteen year old, who would love to be a chef one day, in addition of course to his NBA career and being an FBI agent, has reminded me to write everything down. I have found that it is also helpful to not throw away the cans/boxes/wrappers of whatever you are using until you are finished. I used to clean as I go and then when I was trying to remember everything I did not want to dig through the trash. Now I can count the items, write them down and have my recipe all ready for the next time I decide to make it for my family.
I encourage you to give it a try. It sure works for me! For more Works for Me Ideas, check out Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer
16 comments:
this is a great idea! One I think I will try.
Blessings,
Karla
Clever. My hubby is always creating yummy dishes that he can't re-create because he can't remember what went in them. I'll pass this tip on to him.
I see that you live in Oklahoma too! :)
I'm glad the info. helped- alot more can be found on hotcouponworld.com, but it just takes time to get it all together.
If you ever need assistance w/ the couponing- I'll gladly do what I can to help!
I'm intrigued by your post so I went to yahoo tv and clicked on food network. I could not find that show playing around here. I've never watched the food network but now I want to after reading this post. :)
~Amy
This is a great idea. Several years ago I made the best meatloaf, didn't write down what I threw into it, & have never been able to re-create it. Thanks!
amyswandering - Thanks so much for stopping by! I never cook without my notebook now. After I had recreated several things before the notebook and never could get it just right this notebook really does help. My children thank me because now there 'favorite' creations always taste the same instead of me trying to recreate it over and over without success.
That is a great idea. Unfortunately, I would never use it because I stick to recipes like glue. I never do anything creative or original. I am just too scared! Thanks for sharing!
I love Michael Smith and think his kitchen notebook is just brilliant. Now if only we all had his awesome kitchen in that gorgeous PEI home ...and how could I forget his pantry!
I'll have to try that. I'm always creating dishes, then not remembering what went in them the next time I want to make them.
That is a great idea. My husband jokes that in 13 years of marriage we've never had the same dish! ;) How do you remember what spices you've used?
Berta,
I agree Michael's kitchen and pantry is one reason why I keep watching this show!
Wifey,
Try it...it really works great for me!
Stephanie,
I have to purpose to keep the spices on the cabinet after use and MAKE myself write them down.
I never measure my spices. I was so taken with how Rachael Ray uses her spices that I started doing what she does, which is using the palm of my hand.
After a few times of writing down everything you get used to what you do. BUT, make sure you keep everything you have used on your counter so that if you forget to write it down, you can go back over it again.
Once you do this a while it becomes second nature and now at times I write things down afterwards. I love this way of cooking! I feel empowered!
Good idea! I recently started doing this with the little whiteboard that lives on my fridge. That way, if I think it needs tweaking, I can edit it befoe adding it to my recipe file.
A notebook is good for shopping as well. You can put price lists to make sure to get a good deal when they say it's on sale.
Blessings,
Debbie aka The Real World Martha(S)
I use a notebook for stashing all the recipes that I cut out with hopes of trying! It makes it so much handier to write in your tips, comments and tweaks on recipes. Enjoy!
Good idea. It would definitely preserve that great dish that your family requests again. I'm going to try to catch Chef at Home.
What a good idea!
I often improvise, so I almost never make something exactly the same.
Thanks!
Feel welcome to visit "works for me" at my blog
Laane on the World
Have a great day!!!
Post a Comment