This is a real accomplishment.
I need everyone to remember that only seven months ago, I was "cooking" boxed dinners, frozen pizzas, and mac and cheese....
From super amazing cookbooks, thefresh20.com, the help of my family, and the patience of my husband, I'm proud to say that I've almost mastered the art of cooking. Six months ago, it seemed like a task and now I actually enjoy it. After a long day at work, I pour myself a glass of wine, turn on the Rat Pack station on Pandora and chop/cook away. Its actually turned into the best part of my day. About one month into marriage, I made a deal with Matt that I will make fresh homemade meals every single night if he keeps the computer and TV off, his cell phone in the other room, and spends real genuine time with me while I cook in the kitchen.
This is the best deal I have ever made.
At one point, TV, cell phones, and the computer seemed to kill our close relationship. We would come home from work, turn on the electronics and barely talk. With this "deal" we made together, we are able to talk about each other's day, spend quality time together, and sometimes I even have a special assistant [Matt] to help with the cooking (I'm a lucky gal).
I seriously don't know what I'd do without my family. In the process of learning how to cook, they were the only one I could call with ridiculously embarrassing questions. Questions like: "Where do I find molasses?" "What is quinoa?" "What's the deal with stuffing?? Do you actually put it in the bird?" I know I can always rely on help in the kitchen (even if its through a phone conversation) from my parents and sister, but only after hearing laughs at my silly questions. "So, um, Jaclyn..... you're supposed to cook the chicken on its back..... not stomach." Thanks Dad. I promise I won't cook the turkey on its tummy this time.
For the past two months, Matt and I have only been eating vegetarian. I had finally convinced Matt to eat only vegetarian with me at home if we could eat whatever we wanted we went out to eat. I purchased "One Dish Vegetarian Meals" by Robin Robertson and shocked Matt (and even myself) at how tasty vegetarian meals could be. By meal planning from this cookbook, I have managed to save money and eat more healthy. It amazing how much less expensive your grocery bill is without buying chicken, ground beef, pork, and seafood.
Like promised, we have not been strictly vegetarian and my plan was never to eliminate meat completely. When we do go out to eat (which is very rare), we will order cheeseburgers, steaks, or whatever we want. Personally, I think this is the best of both worlds.
I hate handling raw food.
Hate.
Hate.
Hate.
It grosses me out and typically I pass on the task to Matt when I can't handle it anymore. By only eating meat at restaurants, this eliminates the need.
I never want Matt and I (or our future children) to eat with meat being the main dish. And these are my beliefs, so please do not get offended, but in other countries and 80 years ago, meat was never, ever, ever the main dish. If anything it was an appreciated (not necessary) side to add more flavor to the dish. I wanted to go back to this. I wanted the main dish to be vegetables, whole grains, or fruit with a little dairy and a smaller portion of meat. In fact, the entire "food pyramid" has changed recently to suggest this.
By cooking vegetarian 90% of the time and eating cheeseburgers at restaurants 10% of the time, I feel as though Matt and I are eating more healthy and still maintaining some "wiggle room" for our cravings.
Now Thanksgiving is a total and complete exception. Matt laid out the ground rules when we decided to cook only vegetarian. "I will eat turkey on Thanksgiving and ham on Easter." "I will cook out in the summer."
Deal.
Around the same time of deciding to cook only vegetarian, I also volunteered to host Thanksgiving at our house this year. Knowing fully well that I would need to learn how to cook a turkey, I welcomed the challenge with open arms. (I told my father in law that we'd make him a tofu turkey and he did not welcome the idea). I decided that I should practice cooking the bird before Thanksgiving so this didn't happen....
(at the 1:45 mark)
So I searched recipes on Allrecipes.com and picked the most famous and highest rated turkey recipe on the website. I added my own little zest to the recipe and was thrilled with the results!
We bought a little 10 pounder turkey (on Thanksgiving it will 20 lbs!) and let it thaw in the fridge for two days.
Matt had to handle the initial bloody juices, giblets, neck, and other nasty things.
After I took a look, I ran out the kitchen and up the stairs to save myself from getting sick.
I eventually built up enough courage to handle the dead turkey and its nasty rawness to practice for Thanksgiving.
Referring to the recipe on allrecipes.com
Poor little turkey.
"Take a picture of me pretending to clean the bird (even though you already did, cause I'm a baby)".
My special assistant in the kitchen
Don't worry, I used two sticks of butter on the bird. Yummmmmm.
Still buttering....
"I always give my bird a generous butter massage before I put it in the oven. Why? Because I think the chicken likes it -- and, more important, I like to give it." -Julia Child
Onion and Lemon in the cavity
Matt being a chef
Before it went in the oven
Proud cook.
Cooking time
Basting the bird
Look at that beauty.
Matt sure approved of it.
I'm so happy I have taught myself how to cook. I'm sure Matt is as well. One of my favorite movies is Julie and Julia (after all -- it involves cooking and blogging). After watching it reently, it has made me consider and question if I - as well - could cook through "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" by Julia Childs. I'm sure Matt would welcome the idea.
Maybe I'll attempt it one day. We'll just have to see.
One things is for sure. The turkey was delicious. Very moist and absolutely fab. I had a couple bites but let Matt enjoy the rest (and he has all week). I used to be a 100% meat lover and I was surprised at how much I wasn't tempted to eat the turkey. A few bites were good enough for me. Vegetarianism has definitely changed me. And don't worry, I replaced my meal with wine.
I am now going to be focusing on practicing all my side dishes before Thanksgiving. One dish at a time. I've asked around, gotten opinions, and researched yummy sides for a Thanksgiving meal but I'm still looking for ideas. What is your favorite side dish? I'd love all of your opinions!
“This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook- try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!”
-Julia Child
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