Wednesday 10 September 2014

Scrambling and Wednesday Weigh-In

I've been scrambling in the kitchen since Monday and I don't like it. Basically, since I was on vacation for four days, I didn't have time to do much food prep for the work-week. Trying to grill fish in the morning on the Foreman grill while trying to dry my hair has been... interesting but mostly stressful. I should have done the prep before I left. Seriously I don't know what I was thinking. Just not thinking!  

Went to the grocery, stocked up on some eggs, meats and fish. I think all I had left was a can of tuna in the pantry and no other protein. I bought a couple of big chicken breasts, baked them tonight with a small amount of chili pepper flakes, garlic, coriander, cumin and a bit of cinnamon. Sort of Thai inspired seasoning. Had about 6oz of the chicken for supper on a bed of greens with some sweet potato fries, and I made a small amount of harissa mayo. 

Growing up as a latch-key kid in suburbia in the 80s, all I knew about mayonnaise was it came in a Hellmans jar. My mom, while a fab cook, when she was working full time she went for convenience and casseroles. It wasn't until I met my man's relatives who are French/Italian and into their traditional cookery that they told me mayo is basically just beaten eggs. Who knew? Since I still have some harissa paste left, I just beat it in with the eggs and the other ingredients (oil,vinegar, Dijon mustard, a little salt) and it made a mayo with a spicy kick.  

I'm still somewhat clueless about the basic techniques of cookery. Sure I can follow a recipe, but I mean knowing what various cuts of meat are best for and how to properly cook veggies to bring out their natural flavours. I'd like to take a course but the one I'd like to take is $ costly $. Since money is tight right now, I'm socking away a bit of my pay each month. One part of a cooking course I can skip is the desserts and baking part. Will not step anywhere in that minefield!

Weight-wise, down this week again. Not much, but that's about what I expected to have lost. Now at 173.7 lbs.

6 comments:

  1. Good loss!!! Slow and steady wins the race.

    Also, good on you for cooking fish in the morning while doing your hair!? I am just like you. I can basically cook, but I have no idea how to cook PROPERLY. I just do what I was taught, which are the basics and they get me by. Throwin' stuff together I think will work!

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    1. Thanks Shannon! Exactly, that's what I'm thinking :)

      Maybe this is a generational thing. A lot of friends are in the same boat as we are.

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  2. I can totally relate, Nikki... I get wayyyyy too much credit for what I cook--when in reality, I'm right there with you---I dance my way around a kitchen doing things in an experimental fashion-- and I sometimes get lucky. I have a hard time actually following recipes--I typically wing it.
    I'm super impressed you made your own mayo!!! Mmmmm... Nice!!
    I think you're much more talented in the kitchen than you give yourself credit for--- me too, probably. My best, always!

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    1. Yep dancing around the kitchen, so true. Wish that would burn off more calories than it does!

      Honestly I couldn't believe how easy it was to make mayo. Beats wasting money on a big jar, when I only use mayo in anything once in a while.

      Thanks Sean, that's so nice of you to say so even without ever having tasted my cooking :)

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  3. Replies
    1. Too bad. Maybe a project for you to surprise your lady with a romantic supper some day? :)

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