What's Cooking?

Even my picky daughter loved the clam cakes!

My mom and dad were SOTAs (college students above the traditional age) before there was a name or acronym for it in the late seventies.  After my youngest sister was born, my mom went to community college to finish her degree.  She eventually earned a scholarship to Florida State University for her last two years and wound up earning a degree in home economics.  What I remember most about her internship was that I was in fourth grade and she practiced her lessons for her ninth grade students on me. She always wore\wears her lab coat for the big-time cooking events and classroom cooking instruction.  I essentially learned to cook with her. At age sixteen, I was able to do all the grocery shopping and cooking for my family which was a big help during tax season.  (My mom never actually taught high school after she graduated, but instead joined my father in his tax and accounting business).  I like to say that she home-schooled before it was fashionable. Aren't some of
the most valuable lessons the ones that we learn from our parents?

I have always loved to cook. I like the calm that chopping vegetables brings after work. I love the smells that emanate from the oven, this week meatloaf, my husband's favorite.  Some people have a bucket list full of action while I have a recipe bucket list in my head.  I want to master a meatball recipe like my grandmother's.  I want to master the chocolate souffle. I want to develop my skill for sauce-making--- bolognese, beurre blanc, bechamel. Last year I focused on soups, the hot smoothie. They are so easy that I am not sure why anyone buys soup in a can.  I love how any vegetable can be an amazing soup without the cream.  This year in homage to my daughter, ice cream, sorbets.

I love cooking for people.  I enjoy going to potlucks, but when I invite you over, I want to feed you and enjoy your company. Your only effort should just be to come over. One year, however, I was in a dinner club with like-minded people/couples.  We picked a country or region and hosted a dinner. The host provided drinks and the main course. The other couples brought one dish either an appetizer, soup, salad, and dessert based on the country or focus.  I learned to cook Thai, Russian, Japanese, German, etc.  That ended as lives got busy with children.  I miss it.

I love cooking with people. Probably the earliest cooking memory that I have is baking with my mom before Christmas--all day.  This fall I conquered the clam cake, a Rhode Island delight that no one in my family including my grandmother had quite mastered.  Yet I did so with my step-dad--he on fryer, myself on batter. The secret is Drum Rock!  I have cooked with my daughter by my side in the kitchen since she was 4 months old.  At eleven, she is an accomplished baker, better than me because she pays attention.  She always makes, bakes, and decorates her birthday cakes, she insists.

I love learning about cooking.  Probably  my most favorite indulgence of all is taking a cooking class at Truffles and Trifles.  With friends, I have taken classes in Julia Childs, sushi, Thai, appetizers to name a few.  What I like most about taking a cooking class is that I get to try many many recipes without buying so many ingredients.  I am proud to say that I learned how to make a crepe.  Would I make them for others?  Not so much!  I did love learning the secret of French onion soup- vermouth and other cooking secrets that my experience at Truffles and Trifles uncovered.

Cooking, however, is my hobby. It is not something that I want as a job. I love my day job. Besides ask my husband, doing dishes is not my strong suit!