Food for Thought?

by Maureen

As Thanksgiving has come to pass, all the talk of food has gotten me thinking of food and food stories! Have you ever done something disastrous...or embarrassing concerning food preparation or the serving of it?

I like to think of myself as a good cook. I like to experiment with different things. And I hate to measure! I may concoct something incredible but I never know how much of what I used to recreate it!

When I first started cooking and entertaining with dinner parties, I wasn't a smart cook. I cooked for my mom and brother growing up while my mom worked, but it was never fancy for entertaining food.

I had decided to invite my boyfriend and another couple to dinner. I wanted to make beef stroganoff. I don't know why, but that was what I decided on. The recipe said to brown the meat on all sides. In my infinite wisdom and lack of skill, I cubed the meat and then browned it...one piece at a time! I wanted each piece to be perfectly browned! Needless to say, that took FOREVER!! But, I must admit when all was said and done it was DELICIOUS!

Another time, I decided to make lasagna. I made my own sauce and then moved on to the lasagna noodles. Well, I didn't have a stock pot or pot big enough so I boiled EACH FRICKIN NOODLE...one at a time!! I told you I wasn't a smart cook! It was good and got rave reviews but it was exhausting!

As I mentioned, I don't like to waste time measuring. That could be why I don't bake. I am not a good baker, so that is why I don't do it. I suppose if I did it more I would get better at it.

I was dating this guy in California and his favorite food was brownies. Being the kind person I am ;), I decided to bake him brownies...from scratch. BIG ASS MISTAKE! Let me just cut to the chase...the brownies came out like a roofing shingle. And bitter! It was nearly impossible to get them out of the pan! My boyfriend, bless his heart, tried to eat them. He really tried! Tried dunking them...no help! I finally told him to give it up and admit it was a ginormous failure! I had to fill the pan with water and then put it back in the oven to soften them up enough to get them out of the pan to wash it!! It turns out I didn't put in enough flour, not enough sugar either!

I have more disasters, but I would rather hear yours! Put your stories on a lovely platter and add them to the blog buffet!