Disasters and progress (Final)

Angela Jellison

Eng 121-023

10 Oct 2010

Food Blog

Disasters and Progress( Final Draft)

When I think of food I get excited! Food, to me, feeds the soul. For example, I have fond memories for my auntie’s famous sweet potatoes. Every Thanksgiving we have a feast over at my aunt’s house which consists of turkey,( which is usually dry to the point of having to choke it down), cranberries, (out of a can so they slide down your throat like a raw egg), mashed potatoes,( that are lumpy and feel like curdled milk when swallowed), dinner rolls, (which are okay, I suppose), and her famous sweet potatoes (which I am in love with as they are cooked to perfection and taste like no other potato.)

After experiencing the ups and downs of my family's cooking, I am now experiencing my own ups and downs. Food is usually involved with the many activities that I do. For example, when I have guests at my house, I try to provide a snack or two, such as vegetables and dip or chips and salsa. When I go to softball games I like to bring something to munch on, such as sunflower seeds or licorice. When I think of food I feel comfort, however, cooking food can sometimes be a challenge. Here are some examples of the challenges I face while cooking: One time, when I made my dad pizza, I forgot about it in the oven and it burned to a crisp. I felt bad because my dad was starving so I gave him the pizza and a fork. My dad said “what is the fork for?” I said “just scrape the bottom” I was completely serious, but my dad got quite the laugh out of it, and still tells the story to this day. Another time, I was cooking hard boiled eggs for my roommate and myself, leaving them to boil as I went downstairs to study. My roommate Robin said “don’t forget about the eggs” with me telling her confidently “I won’t forget”. Upon going down stairs, apparently I fell asleep for the remainder of the night. The next morning Robin informed me that I indeed forgot the eggs, with all of the water boiling out of the pan and the eggs stinking up the house tremendously. ( I found this rather entertaining.)

Although my primary experience involves burning, forgetting and generally not paying attention to my food preparation, I have proudly prepared a few dishes with moderate success. One thing that I really enjoy making (which I am quite good at) is stuffed green peppers. I learned how to make this wonderful dish two years ago with my uncle. When I think about making stuffed green peppers my mouth waters, I feel a sense of comfort, and upon eating them I get fully satisfied, never to be left hungry. Rather than using the traditional hamburger and rice, I like to use Italian sausage and diced tomatoes. First you cut the green pepper, and then you stuff it with Italian sausage and top it off with a can of diced tomatoes flavored with onion and garlic. After cooking it on three- hundred and seventy -five degrees for about one hour and forty- five minutes, remove it from the oven and sprinkle parmesan cheese on top. Now you have a masterpiece that you will fall in love with!

Even though I make a mean green pepper, I also like to cook meals in the crock pot. I find this is the easiest way to cook without burning everything. My favorite thing to make is cream of mushroom soup with pork chops, potatoes and carrots. In the morning I would throw it all together and let it simmer all day. When I get home from work it’s ready to eat. I now have a crock pot cookbook to get other recipes so I can try out a variety of recipes.

On the other hand besides cooking at home, my boyfriend Chris and I enjoy eating out. A few of our favorite places are Texas Roadhouse and Lone Star. Both of these places are steak houses. Steak is another one of my favorite foods. My favorite steak is a New York strip cooked medium well with sautéed mushrooms and onions on top, since it is very expensive, I only eat it on occasion. I also order a baked potato with sour cream, cheese and chives. The potato is always over-filling so I can’t ever finish it. The hot dinner rolls are fabulous. They serve you all you can eat with an endless supply of cinnamon butter. (Mmm). When we go out I truly take pleasure in the atmosphere. For example, at Texas Road house the waitresses line dance for you, and they have loud music. I love the fact that someone else waits on me, and I don’t have to clean up afterwards. Not to mention if my food gets burned I have the benefit of sending it back.

While I like to enjoy myself here and there, right now my chaotic lifestyle involves school, work and of course occasional fun so I really don’t have the healthiest diet. For instance, my favorite food is macaroni and cheese from a box, which must be Kraft. Since I don’t like to share, I can eat the whole box myself. Macaroni and cheese is something easy to make and it doesn’t take that long. As a matter of fact I have a trick to speed up the process; normally, when the water is boiling, if you add the noodles and keep the temperature on high the water will overflow. However, If you add a small piece of butter to the water then it won’t overflow and you can still keep the temperature on high. I have found this to be the fastest way to make macaroni and cheese.

After giving it some thought I have had some struggles with food preparation. Although this isn't such a bad thing I have also had great success. When it comes to cooking, I know how to either create a huge mess, or make a wonderful masterpiece. Overall, I have learned a lot of helpful hints that I can use in the future. For me, food is a significant part of who I am and the memories of my past.