Kiki’s Corner: Confidence is a key ingredient in the kitchen
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This past Wednesday, we had the judging for the annual Parkersburg News and Sentinel cookbook contest. It was, as always, so nice to get together with other judges and judge special recipes from so many talented cooks in our area.
We always have new participants, and we welcome them with open arms. We also have the ones that enter their recipes every year, particularly two lovely ladies from St. Marys. The mother is Anne Dean, and I know she wouldn't care for me to tell you that she is 92 years old and looks like she is 70-75. Unbelievable! The daughter is Tammy Morrison, a great cook like her mother. It's very obvious that those two ladies love to cook and they appreciate good food. They have received through the years many grand prizes, and I have to say they're well deserved. We have some great ideas to add to the Parkersburg News and Sentinel Cookbook for next year that I am sure you will like.
Baking and cooking are both great talents that so many of you have. I always tell my children and grandchildren that you have to love it and you have to have confidence in yourself. In other words, don't be afraid to try different things, and if something doesn't turn out the first time, don't get upset. Try it again next time, and you will get better.
Have you heard the expression "practice makes perfect?" The person who wrote that was correct.
Sometimes we doubt ourselves because we fear failure, or you worry about what people think. These feelings are normal, but they should not stop us from trying.
Remember, you do not need to be perfect to try a new recipe. We all make mistakes. Even the best chefs, if you ask them, will tell you the same thing. I was talking to a chef the other day and he confessed that he made a new dish and it was too salty, so he had to add extra water. Trust your abilities, be brave, and don't doubt yourself.
I have told you before how much I love to read cookbooks. You can do the same thing and mark the ones that sound good to you. Sometimes they will turn out good, but trust me, at times you will be disappointed. That might be because you don't like a certain spice used in that recipe. So next time, use your favorite spice. I bet it will change the taste.
The cooks and the bakers are not the only ones that make mistakes. For instance, the student can give a wrong answer, a worker can make a bad decision, a parent can say something in anger.
Learning is a journey that never ends. All these years that I've been cooking, it seems like I'm learning something new all the time. Do not feel ashamed when you do not know something. Every expert was once a beginner. Spend time learning every day. Practice with your new ingredients, and remember, knowledge grows when you use it and share it with other people.
I have done many cooking schools in my lifetime, and I enjoyed sharing my talent with others, especially when they show interest. There are many for whom it's not their cup of tea, but they have other interests and other talents.
Make sure you focus, because it helps you complete your dish faster and better if you don't have any distractions. If you are a beginner in the kitchen, just select one dish at a time. If someone else has three or four pans on the burners, don't let that distract you. In time, you will be able to do the same thing..
I truly believe that practice makes perfect! Anyone can develop better focus with regular practice in the kitchen, so don't hesitate. Begin today and notice the positive results soon. You will be so proud of yourself. I'm not afraid to try new dishes, and I truly believe that we can improve our confidence when we keep trying not only in the kitchen but in other projects as well.
Confidence does not mean thinking you are better than everyone else. It means trusting yourself enough to try, even when you're not sure about the results. None of these things should stop you from moving forward.
You do not need everyone to believe in you at the beginning. Sometimes the first person who needs to believe in your dream is YOU!
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Greek macaroni salad
Dressing
1/2 cup oil
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 tsp salt
1 or 2 garlic cloves, minced
Pepper to taste
1 tsp rosemary
2 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
Place dressing ingredients in a jar and shake well
2 cups uncooked macaroni
1 large green pepper, diced
1 large tomato, cubed
3 sliced green onions
1 cup cubed Swiss cheese
3/4 cup sliced black olives .
Cook macaroni and drain. While still hot, pour dressing over macaroni. Toss and then cool. Add vegetables, cheese and olives. Toss. Chill. Toss again before serving.
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Supper corn chowder
5 slices bacon
1 medium onion, sliced and separated into rings
2 cups cooked or canned whole kernel corn
1 cup diced potatoes
1 (10 1/2 oz.) can cream of mushroom soup
2 1/2 cups milk
1 tsp salt
Cook bacon crisp in large saucepan. Remove bacon. Pour off drippings. Return 3 tbsp to pan. Add onion and cook until lightly browned. Add remaining ingredients and a dash of pepper. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer a minute or two. Top each serving with crumbled bacon and butter.
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Vegetable pizza
1 package crescent rolls
8 oz cream cheese
1 package ranch-style dressing (optional)
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 bunch broccoli tops
Green onions
2 carrots
Cheddar cheese, shredded
Spread crescent rolls on cookie sheet. Bake and cool. Mix cream cheese, ranch-style dressing (dry) and mayonnaise. Spread on crescent rolls. Shred carrots. Cut broccoli and green onions very thin. Put over cream cheese mixture. Put cheddar cheese over this. Cut in squares.
Enjoy.