Friday, January 7, 2011

My Cooking Aspirations - Aloha Friday


Mark and I went on a date night last night which landed us at Borders....which landed me among a sea of cookbooks. How perfect. I can read cookbooks like novels, but I have a problem. I have a THICK file of recipes that are on the "to-make" list, a select few cookbooks which have recipes that I can't wait to try (I got rid of a massive amount of cookbooks that I would never use - freeing) and a hefty amount of tried and true recipes. I might be a little addicted to new recipe collection. I have to really limit myself at blog recipe linkups. More and more I come back wanting to master the basics.

Processed items just have too much junk in them. I make my own yogurt, fruit sauces to add to my yogurt, spaghetti sauce, broth, salad dressings, pizza dough, refried, baked and black beans, etc..

I want to starting making:

tortillas - have you seen the ingredient list?

hummus - I want to master a really good go-to recipe

ketchup - do you think my kids will eat it?

cultured butter - is the expense worth it (it's not expensive, just more than store bought)?

kimchi - spicy Korean cabbage - so good and so expensive in the store (and sub par)

kefir water - this would require me to buy kefir grains, which may be too much for our budget

buttermilk biscuits - this one is for my husband - his grandmother made the most fantastic biscuits and nobody can replicate them. I need to practice more often.

And not only do I want to make them, I want to be good at making them (which also means they are easier to make). I'll be looking to expand my list :)

"In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response."So head over to her site, An Island Life and answer her question but while you are here you might as well answer mine:


Any staples that you have in your repertoire already or would like to get good at making?

9 comments:

  1. I want to learn how to make corn tortillas. I've found a place to get the press and cornflour here but I need to buy them first *L*

    Homemade ketchup is SO MUCH BETTER than storebought! I need to ask my mom for her recipe.

    I'd also like to get a little better at making English Muffins. I made them once and they were pretty good but I'd like to tweak a couple of things so that they're FANTASTIC!

    I'll need to think about this some more... I bet I could come up with quite a list if I thought about it for awhile *L*

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  2. I am highly impressed you make your own yogurt, spag sauce, etc! Love it! I need to come live with you and have you teach me your ways. My mother didn't teach me to cook. I just always baked. With my last boyfriend I did get a lot better at cooking! But im single and refuse to cook for myself, unless I have people coming over :)

    And a date night to Borders, sounds like my kind of night! :)

    Happy Friday!

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  3. Home made ketchup is intriguing! Never thought of that. Not an adventurous cook at all, more a meat and potato type of family for sure.

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  4. Salad and pasta are a hit around here.

    Have a great day!
    http://harrietandfriends.com/2011/01/have-you-ever-had-to-blow-someone-off/

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  5. You go girl.
    I try to make homemade stuff as much as I can though some of the things are easier and cheaper to buy already made- either all natural or organic.
    I made homemade ketchup one time a LONG time ago. I really couldn't get it thick enough though it did taste good. Not that Hunts has the one with corn syrup, I just buy that one.
    Looking forward to hearing more about this and watching all you make.
    Mikki

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  6. Pasta is my go to food here.

    I'd love to be able to make great tacos for my husband.

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  7. Hi there! I am your newest follower!! Nice to meet ya!

    http://massholemommy.com/

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  8. wow i am impressed, your culinary skills definitely put mine to shame!

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  9. My go-to meal has always been baked spaghetti. It's really easy and makes a lot! :-)

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