Cooking, or something ...

[beer]

I love to eat - travel around the world just to try out different things like giant hairy spiders and such.

Sadly, I've never been very good at cooking... Disappointing since it seems like something I should be good at, being creative and all.

I think I just made hard boiled eggs, but we'll find out for sure at lunch time. Couple days back I made pancakes... Really easy stuff, just open the packet of mix and stir in the water then cook. Mine turned out like scrambled egg.

I hope science hurries up with those trekky replicators!

[billybob476]

Actually, a good resource to start cooking (it was for my wife and I) is The joy of Cooking.

http://www.amazon.com/Joy-Cooking-75th-Anniversary-2006/dp/0743246268/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279820450&sr=8-1-spell

It has tons of recipes and writeups about how to do basic things. The only cookbook we refer to regularly.

[beer]

Perhaps I should try out one of these books... One that actually teaches cooking and just not recipes. I wish I could say that I'm exaggerating the degree of my poor cooking!

Eating out has always been one of my great loves!

[cosmonaut]

The pan has to be hot before you put the dough in, and then you have to wait till one side of the pancake is done before you try to turn it. The pancake mustn't be too thin or too thick, the pan mustn't be too hot or too cold and the timing has to be right. Just needs practice, so keep at it! :)
(Or call it Kaiserschmarrn if it looks like scrambled eggs and pretend it was intentional, it's still tasty!) ;)

Good idea to start with a cookbook that explains the basics, those are very useful.

[beer]

I had messed up each and every one of those steps, cosmonaut! :) Perhaps I should go with your second suggestion.

Later today I will try to find a computer and post a photo that will cause most everyone to loose their appetite <evil grin>

[Bromptonboy]

The pan has to be hot before you put the dough in, and then you have to wait till one side of the pancake is done before you try to turn it. The pancake mustn't be too thin or too thick, the pan mustn't be too hot or too cold and the timing has to be right. Just needs practice, so keep at it! :)
(Or call it Kaiserschmarrn if it looks like scrambled eggs and pretend it was intentional, it's still tasty!) ;)

Good idea to start with a cookbook that explains the basics, those are very useful.

We made Maultaschen the other day....oh my how I love them!  (although I think that is a South German dish, right?)

[beer]

Hope this works; better viewing at http://twitpic.com/29b8tm ... And yes, I did eat that :)



bon appetit !

[Feathers]

Ooooookaaaaay.

I'm now not sure if I should be glad I've already eaten or regret the fact and make a run for the facilities!

Thanks for sharing...I think.

[cosmonaut]

I like Spiders, but haven't eaten one. I'm not sure what to do with a fried one, maybe I'd nibble on a leg before I pass the plate to you? How was your first insect, is there a way to ease yourself in?

My personal nightmare food would be a Sardinian cheese, Casu marzu, and like Klingon Gagh it isn't really good if they don't wiggle and live on in your intestines.
For a while it was outlawed by the EU, but since there's an exemption for traditional food it's legal again. I really hope the locals keep it all to themselves.

We made Maultaschen the other day....oh my how I love them!  (although I think that is a South German dish, right?)

Grandma's Maultaschen, how I miss them! Yes, south German, maybe inspired by Italien food, but the legend goes like this:
"Maultaschen are rumored to have been invented by monks of the Maulbronn monastery to conceal the fact that they were eating meat during lent. The monks hid the meat inside of the Maultaschen, believing that God couldn't see it that way. (This is reflected in the humorous alternative Swabian name Herrgottsbscheißerle (roughly: "little ones to cheat on the Lord")" source: Wikipedia

[Bromptonboy]

Grandma's Maultaschen, how I miss them! Yes, south German, maybe inspired by Italien food, but the legend goes like this:
"Maultaschen are rumored to have been invented by monks of the Maulbronn monastery to conceal the fact that they were eating meat during lent. The monks hid the meat inside of the Maultaschen, believing that God couldn't see it that way. (This is reflected in the humorous alternative Swabian name Herrgottsbscheißerle (roughly: "little ones to cheat on the Lord")" source: Wikipedia

Thanks!  Funny - our friends (they are Swabian) taught me how to make them.  We either eat them in chicken broth, or fry them with lots of onions, or even eat them with eggs.  I am told these are all legit ways to consume them.  :)

[beer]

I had to look them up - but they look good :) I was camping in Baden-Württemberg for a few weeks where my most memorable food was Rothaus. :) Really enjoyed my time there and want to get back soon! One of the campground restaurants served some kind of meat with thick mushroom gravy and spatzle <sp> ~drool~

[beer]

I like Spiders, but haven't eaten one. I'm not sure what to do with a fried one, maybe I'd nibble on a leg before I pass the plate to you? How was your first insect, is there a way to ease yourself in?

I remember the legs tasting like dirt wrapped in wax paper (some describe them like pretzles) ... The abdomin <sp> also kinda tastes like bad dirt - like something that made you wonder why you were chewing on this. All had a peppery-lemon flavor from the cooking.

There was a plate of 3 of them, each about the size of an adult hand. About US$3.50. I ate 1 and 2/3.

[cosmonaut]

Grandma's Maultaschen, how I miss them! Yes, south German, maybe inspired by Italien food, but the legend goes like this:
"Maultaschen are rumored to have been invented by monks of the Maulbronn monastery to conceal the fact that they were eating meat during lent. The monks hid the meat inside of the Maultaschen, believing that God couldn't see it that way. (This is reflected in the humorous alternative Swabian name Herrgottsbscheißerle (roughly: "little ones to cheat on the Lord")" source: Wikipedia

Thanks!  Funny - our friends (they are Swabian) taught me how to make them.  We either eat them in chicken broth, or fry them with lots of onions, or even eat them with eggs.  I am told these are all legit ways to consume them.  :)

Indeed, your Swabian friends taught you well! :D

I had to look them up - but they look good :) I was camping in Baden-Württemberg for a few weeks where my most memorable food was Rothaus. :) Really enjoyed my time there and want to get back soon! One of the campground restaurants served some kind of meat with thick mushroom gravy and spatzle <sp> ~drool~

Beer is said to be "fluid bread" and thus was very popular by the monks during lent...

You probably ate Jägergeschnetzeltes or Jägerschnitzel, Jäger- (hunter) usually indicates some meat with mushrooms.
Glad you enjoyed your stay there! :D

I remember the legs tasting like dirt wrapped in wax paper (some describe them like pretzles) ... The abdomin <sp> also kinda tastes like bad dirt - like something that made you wonder why you were chewing on this. All had a peppery-lemon flavor from the cooking.

I think I pass and stick with pretzels, which, coincidentally, are southern Germans as well... and guess what:
" (...) Pretzels made with a simple recipe using only flour and water could be eaten during Lent (...)"

It's starting to get ridiculous, isn't it? Anyone else who now wants to become a monk? ;)