Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Thoughts on Cooking

People have been asking why I don't like to cook. I think the main reason is because I'm a major clean freak and the thought of messing up my kitchen is not appealing. Seriously. After I have scrubbed the kitchen top to bottom and Garth wants to get in there and make something he gets the evil eye from me.
But maybe the biggest reason is because of the competition. My mom is a domestic diva! Her home is always clean and you can count on a delish meal on the table every night. If that's not enough, she can make the meanest desserts. Did I mention she made my wedding cake?
Yeah, so you see the tough act I have to follow. Not to mention my mother-in-law and sister-in-law are darn good cooks as well. My MIL's stews are to die for - I didn't even know I liked stew until I tasted hers!
Nonetheless, I felt up to the challenge Monday night. Garth had an exam Monday night so I thought I'd surprise him with a nice meal. I made this Broccoli Quiche recipe I found from sweet Misadventures of a Newlywed's Meal plan Monday. The only glitch I had was finding pie crust in the grocery store and I finally had to call my mom for help. Garth came home surprised (maybe too surprised). He declared it the best meal I have EVER cooked!!!! WOOHOO! I was glowing with all the compliments he was giving, maybe I could get used to this...

55 comments:

Jules said...

I can't believe your mom made that wedding cake! Wow.

I'm so glad that Garth liked your Broccoli Quiche! It definitely feels good to be complimented on a meal well done.

Sassy Engineer said...

I hate a messy kitchen too, so I have just gotten really good at cleaning while I cook! My husband is another story though :)

Lindsey said...

I love your wedding cake! Cook is fun! Keep it up and you will enjoy it more!

d.a.r. said...

Congrats on your kitchen success!! Sometimes you just have to get in there and try stuff. 4 out of 5 times it is edible, 2/5 times it is a recipe you will want to make again. The rest are just funny stories that usually result in ordering chinese or pizza :)

Tell Garth you will cook more if he deep cleans the kitchen for ya!!

Tasha said...

That wedding cake is beautiful! I'm completely impressed by your mama's skills! Congrats on cooking a yummy meal! (I don't like to cook either). :-)

5th Belle Avenue said...

Yayyy, so happy that Garth loved your quiche! Way to go!! And I feel your pain. My mom used to own a catering business and is a fantastic cook. I, however, did not inherit the natural cooking gene. But keep practicing and it starts to get easier! And I wash the dishes as I go along, that way I don't have a huge mess when I'm finished. Beautiful cake!!!

AmyT said...

I'm with ya on the messy kitchen thing...drives me nuts - I clean as I cook.....I cannot stand to let dirty dishes sit - grrrr. BUT I love love love to cook. Just find a routine - I did...the cleaning as I go, it tends to be less messy, and when I'm done cooking, most of the mess is gone. I am constantly whiping the counters as I go along. It does wonders!! Your cake was beautiful - I'm sure you have the same talent...it's in there!!!! Congrats on the meal!!!

Tabbie:) said...

Way to go!!
Keep it up!!

Ellen Mint said...

Maybe the cooking gene skips a generation.

That means your kid will be cooking geniuses!

Christie said...

It feels great to get a compliment after putting your effort and love into a home cooked meal. And like Pocket Full of Pink and AmyT said, a little trick about the messy part is to clean up as you go, which keeps things tidy AND allows you to relax more once the meal is over.

Sweetbabs said...

Good for you for getting your hands and your kitchen dirty! Like most though I have learned and mastered the art of cleaning while cooking. It is really quite amazing! Although I have to admit though I do enjoy cooking I do not do it as often as I should.

And P.S. I love your wedding cake! I can see that you do indeed have some big shoes to fill.

ELP said...

Your wedding cakes were beautiful! Your mom did an amazing job! YAY, for your dinner last night...now keep it going...it gets better :)

tootie said...

Your mom is so talented! Those cakes look amazing.

But don't sell yourself short - I bet you can hold your own in the kitchen, too! (And I know what you mean about not wanting to mess up the kitchen...I clean while I'm cooking because I can't stand a dirty kitchen!)

Emily said...

ur mom is a diva! love the cakes... she is very talented:) yeah for surprsiing garth with dinner! i love when ryan says it is the best meal.. makes ya feel good doesnt it:)

Unknown said...

Wow. I can't believe your mom made your wedding cake. It looks delish. You'd be hard pressed to find me in the kitchen too if my mom made cakes like that.

Kim @ NewlyWoodwards said...

You are adorable! I'm happy it went well.

I never cooked - but my turning point was at a shower when my grandmother (who has no tact) loudly announced that she didn't know why I needed all of these nice things when I wasn't going to use them anyways. I would never cook.

Nice, huh?

Well, I made it my personal mission to cook A LOT. And, now I do. And, I make sure to tell my grandma about every new dish I make.

Revenge is sweet.

Melissa said...

I'm no awesome either. I'm always calling my mom for questions or Dustin's mom. They are both great cooks and seem to know everything.

Mrs. Dirnberger said...

I can not believe your MOM made that cake...wow! It looks incrediable! She should go into business for herself

April E. :) said...

Don't you just LOVE it when it works out! I LOVE trying new things and I love to cook and bake. However I do have competition too..but you just have to remember...my MAN is eating MY food...so if he likes it, that's all that counts.
...and on that note, lately My husby has loved finding cool recipes for us to cook together. Good note on that...two cooks in the kitchen, we clean as we go! :)

La Petite Chic said...

Aww, hooray for making something yummy! I have always loved to cook and bake so it wasn't that big of a transition for me when we got married. And I'm super impressed by your mom's baking skills...she used fondant and everything! Wow!

Jessica said...

I totally know how you feel. I HATE messing up the kitchen and spending another hour after the meal cleaning up. And I feel like I just mess up my meals anyway. Oh well, I'm trying at least!

Your mom did an awesome job on your wedding cake! Luke and I were also lucky enough for his grandma to make ours. It was her wedding gift to us:-)

E-Money said...

I love cooking but hate a dirty kitchen. That's why I have to cook, no one else! Because no one else does it right! Clean as you go, people!

TexanCouture said...

I love your cake! I wish my mom or I could bake that good!

Lis said...

Your mom MADE your wedding cake?!? Oh I'd totally throw the towel in for cooking too!! And I totally know what you mean, I feel like I am always cleaning the kitchen and then when I cook, I have to start all over again.. Geez, men just don't understand!! :)

Elyse said...

Sounds like you are a "pro" now :) Maybe one day you will be just like your sweet mama!
~Elyse~

Naturally Caffeinated Family said...

Yay for a great meal! Keep going girl! Yeah maybe Garth will clean the kitchen after you make a rockin meal! :)

Minnesota Girl said...

What a beautiful wedding cake! I can't believe she made that =)

Unknown said...

YAY!!! I'm glad you liked the quiche...I saw the recipe too and think I might make it next week! :)

Pleasant Living said...

oh man! I wouldn't wanna follow that act either!

Unknown said...

Wait a minute...your mother made that wedding cake????!!!

How is that even humany possible??! It IS fun to brag on our talented moms though, isnt it??

:) Thank you!

The Blonde Duck said...

I can't believe she made that cake! I'm in shock!

Taryn said...

Beautiful cake. Wow- did she take cake decorating classes or something?

I am glad the quiche turned out well. I love it!

Kristin said...

What a beautiful wedding cake!! That's so neat that your mom made it for you! And that broccoli quiche sounds gooooood!

Megan said...

Yay for the best meal you've ever cooked :-)

That Fresh Feeling said...

Way to go girl!

Mrs. Not-so-Domesticated said...

Your cake is beautiful! I really like to cook, but I hate cleaning up after myself...and I'm pretty messy. Oh well...take out is pretty easy to clean up.

Meagan said...

yeah! Great job! =) I love quiche!!

Shanny said...

Yay for a great dinner!!! Practice makes perfect and I'm sure Garth could get used to more Yummy meals by Lindsey =)

Your mom did an amazing job with your wedding cake!

Kelli said...

Your cake is beautiful! I'm so glad that you made a good meal! Isn't it gratifying when you hubby says it's the best thing ever!

Courtney said...

Wow! That is hard to live up to! Your mom is amazing! But, hey- that means it's in your jeans too, right??

Perfectly Imperfect said...

I don't cook at all. I just like like absolutely nothing about it. Oh well.. I clean a lot. That should be enough huh?!?!

Good job on the keish. I wrote down that recipe too and am thinking about attempting it.

Or I might just give the recipe to the hubs =)

Kyla @ The Simpsons said...

Your wedding cake was Ammmazing:)

Jon and Steph said...

Woohoo, congrats on the best meal ever! That's so sweet of him to say. And what a sweet surprise.

Your wedding cake was fantastic! She did a wonderful job. I love the pictures of you guys on the cake.

I'm with you on the dishes. We do dishes and clean our kitchen EVERY night because we cook everyday. What a pain! ;)

Saskia said...

Your wedding cake is amazing!! What a cook-extraordinaire to look up to!

Saskia x

Peppermint Bee said...

I am crazy about a messy kitchen too!
You have got a little something on my blog!

Mrs. S said...

:) Gorgeous wedding cake. I love the one pic on it that has him kissing you... so sweet!

Ok, so about cooking. I grew up with Chef Boyardee and Mac N Cheese so I had NO clue how to cook. And I HATE cleaning up! But I had a mother in law that is an ex caterer and Wedding cake maker and homemade bread baker and maker of all things delicious and I KNEW I had to learn somehow so my hubby would stop dragging me there for dinner to "save on paying for groceries" other wise known as You-really-suck-and-I-want-yummy-food. Just play with cooking. Try something new just once a week, and then try playing with the recipe a little and you'll be amazed how much you might start liking it. Especially when you get the ohhs and ahhhs from hubby!

(tip: Start with a clean kitchen and empty dishwasher. Fill the sink with hot soapy water and when you are done with a dish, swipe it clean or rinse and throw in the dishwasher. Doing this makes it look like I haven't even been cooking!)

Anonymous said...

Lindsey, I know there is a good cook somewhere in there. I talked to your hubby and everytime you cook for him he says you do a great job!! I think that with time you be more comfortable and come into your own... Oh and dont worry about the acts to follow... You do your own thing and you WILL be great! Love you Sister!

The Ratpack said...

I totally agree - I'm fine with cooking, but cleaning up after wards is the worst! And my hubby does it sometimes, but of course you kind of have to go back and "fix" things : )

Lump said...

I just don't have the patience to cook. I feel like I have better things to be doing like watching TV. haha! yeah my priorites are awesome. ;)

Newlywed Next Door said...

How cool is that cake!?! Go Mom!

Lucky in Love said...

I've always loved to cook...but didn't really know what I was doing until I started watching Food Network and just practicing. My MIL is awesome in the kitchen so I felt I needed to follow in her footsteps and properly feed her only child :)

I haven't mastered the spotlessly clean kitchen afterward yet though. I hate that as well. I clean before I cook and then after! Not fun!

I can't believe your mama made that cake! It is so neat! Maybe she can give me some tips!

JennyLee said...

Yeah for compliments on a well cooked meal! You go girl!

Rachel said...

Are you turning over a new leaf?

Unknown said...

Your wedding cake is FAB!

Kudos for jumping in the fire, but don't compare yourself to everyone else. Just do you!

Winks & Smiles,
Wifey

Brett Alexandra said...

Wow. That wedding cake is SO amazing! What a cute idea!