Improvisational cooking is nothing new, I'm just going to try and bring it down to earth a little bit, and hopefully get my family and friends eating to fuel their bodies, while learning to love to cook."Throw in some onions" might be a little scary at first, but it will be freeing and personal when you learn to get away from "Finely chop 1/4 Onion horizontally and set aside".
I constantly hear "I hate cooking, I can't cook, I can't cook like you, I accidentally cooked my cookbook" and so on. I get it. I said it all myself - but then I taught myself to think of food as the fuel that runs my body (and those bodies that I cook for). I want to feel my best, think my best, be my best - and what I put in my body can make that happen.
This isn't just ideas for tonight's family dinner (although it can be), but a way to learn to love our food - from where it came from on the earth, to how our bodies will find great use for it - food rocks!
It's all about experimentation, and hopefully "Don't Tell Me How To Cook" will lead you down a new path of deliciousness. We'll discuss various cooking methods, produce, and pairings among many other topics from which you can build your toolbox and go to work. Technique is important, and questions are welcome!
Tip number 1 - post number 1 - and the single most important part of improvisational cooking - learn to find great produce! Nothing prepared of frozen, only the freshest ingredients you can find. Farmers markets are ideal for this, but every local grocery store will have something to offer. I spend 90% of my time grocery shopping in the produce, meat, and bakery departments (not on the aisles of boxed food with animated characters telling me what to eat).
What produce do you have in your kitchen? What produce do you like to eat? What produce have you never tried?
Tonight I used some Japanese Eggplant in a made up version of Ratatouille... I called it "Hong Kong Phooey Ratatouille"
How's that for fun. Ok. I'll try harder next time.
"A Stocked Kitchen" coming soon - all the basics you'll need!
