All cooks know what it feels like to slave over some new dish and then it doesn't come out right. Or you undercook it, or burn it. The trick is to make something with enough good ingredients that if you mess it up a little bit, it's still edible.
I just made a "casserole" [I hate that words but sometimes it's the only one that will do] and it weighs 375 lbs. I can barely lift it. Michael will have to put it in the oven.
However, my casserole has Jasmine rice, Tennessee Pride Hot Sausage, sharp cheddar cheese, and some other ingredients. It may not be something you'd find in Gourmet magazine, but it will be tasty.
If I don't burn it.
[Mom and Michael are very tolerant of the fact that when I am writing, dinner will likely be either late or... weird. Often a little burnt.]
I aim for failing in such a way that everyone can still eat. Here are some examples...
WAFFLES
The other night I wasn't enthusiastic about dinner but I finally decided on... waffles. I found the old Joy of Cooking and used the classic waffle recipe in there. You mix up flour and egg yolks and milk and melted butter. You beat the egg whites and fold them in. They are heavenly. I remembered eating these waffles and falling into a happy stupor afterwards.
The waffle iron, which was new when I bought it for Mom about 10 years ago, either had never been used or been washed too thoroughly. I brushed some olive oil on it with a pastry brush and slapped some batter on there for the first waffle, what we call the Dog Waffle because that's who usually gets it.
Epic Fail.
The waffle iron was so unseasoned, I still haven't gotten it clean. Bummer. Mother told me later that Mamaw would've Crisco'd that thing half to death before pouring that rich and delicious batter on there.
Mamaw studied Home Economics at Bessie Tift College and nobody knew more about cooking. I wish I had not lost her so young [I was 14 when she had a massive stroke.]
It was after 8:30, though, and I didn't have time to dig out the Belgian waffle iron and start again. So I used the batter to make pancakes.
They were a little odd looking but very tasty.
Epic Win.
BORSCHT
I made borscht last week and completely forgot to put in potatoes. There were none whatsoever in there.
It was still tasty.
World's easiest and best Borscht: 1 pkg. shredded [coleslaw] cabbage; 1 red onion, diced - saute onion and cabbage 15 minutes in about 2 tablespoons butter and/or canola oil, plus salt and pepper to taste; put in crock pot; add 4-6 cups of beef broth or vegetable broth, juice of one lemon, 1 tsp. carraway seeds, 2-3 bay leaves; 2-3 cups chopped cooked potatoes, 2 cups shredded beets [I use canned]. Cook in crock pot on low 4-6 hours. / Serve with sour cream for a garnish. We had this for dinner. YUM.
CAKES
I remember being a kid and getting so annoyed at my mother because she would be on the phone a lot. So one day I took a cake mix and decided to make a cake while she was on the phone, sitting in the kitchen. I put all the ingredients in a bowl and stirred and stirred. The batter looked REALLY weird. I added a little vanilla. Still looked weird. Tasted it. Awful.
Finally, I had to ask Mother what to do. She looked at the batter, and put the phone down long enough to say "Open the box, Dee, take out the plastic bag, and put the actual mix in there, then it will look and taste right."
Oops.
I made a cake once and it was an epic fail. It was chocolate. I added almond flavoring, which is a requirement in our house for anything chocolate. I went right by the recipe. nope. Took it out of the oven and it was a mess.
I cried and cried. I was 12 year old and I had been cooking since I was 5.
My brother, about 15 years old, heard me crying and came in the kitchen and looked at the mess.
"I can help you get this cleaned up," he said. He grabbed a fork and just sat and ate the entire cake. I ate some of it. It tasted delicious, even though it looked horrible.
Wow, there's a life lesson there.... :-)
I will close with a photo I took today that is now my favorite Lola photo. It has nothing to do with cooking.
