Learning to cook: baby steps

[afuna]

I don't know how to cook, and starving while I'm in China doesn't appeal to me so I decided it was time to learn. Two nights ago, I learned to mash potatoes (note that I didn't say cook potatoes). Potatoes + butter + milk, dash of salt, some wrist action, and I have a side dish!

Then yesterday I learned how to cook scrambled eggs. (eggs + milk + salt + pepper + more wrist action). Too late, I realized I wanted to have a cheese omelet -- the egg had already been cooked, so I grated a block of cheese over the scrambled eggs, and it turned out mildly pretty. Added toast, a bit of ketchup, and tadaa, breakfast!

I know I still have a lot to learn, but I was satisfied that I at least wouldn't grow sick on just instant noodles and takeout. Then I realized that I didn't know how to cook instant noodles...

This morning, i decided to learn. I now know how to boil water and drain noodles. Isn't it great?

Comments

[afuna]

Food often tastes better when you yourself are the one cooking it. =)

Actually, I'm such a crappy cook that that isn't true yet XDDD (But I hope to make it true soon!)

[habeo.livejournal.com]

Heh, but you'll eat it anyway if it's your own cooking.

That phrase works both ways. =P

[habeo.livejournal.com]

Food often tastes better when you yourself are the one cooking it. =)

I used to take summer classes in cooking, but I forgot most of what I've learned from lack of practice (not that I learned much, mind you). The only things I can distinctly remember being able to cook (and not anymore) are Tiramisu and Lasagna and Scrambled Eggs. XD

• I now know how to boil water and drain noodles.
• Mashed Potatoes
• Scrambled Eggs

Yay, you can now survive most anywhere!

[afuna]

Food often tastes better when you yourself are the one cooking it. =)

Actually, I'm such a crappy cook that that isn't true yet XDDD (But I hope to make it true soon!)

• Scrambled Eggs with cheese

You forgot one thing :P

[habeo.livejournal.com]

I might as well add:

• Scrambled Eggs with cheese and ketchup, and a side of toast

But I thought that'd be overkill.

[ivles.livejournal.com]

My version of omelet will be 2 eggs and a pinch of salt. XDDD
Yes, I am that lazy... but if cooked properly, it will smell like shrimp. I will eat it with hot steamed rice (thank God for rice cooker) and black sweet soya sauce (kecap manis) and tomatoe sauce.

I was too afraid of gasoline stove that I stay away from cooking, but my current boarding house has LPG stove, so... heh.

Indonesian omelet: 2 eggs, 2 thinly-sliced onions, 1 thinly-sliced garlic, all beaten, add a pinch of salt, (if you like add some finely-chopped chili or just use chili pepper XD) heat the cooking oil in the pan, and put it all together. I usually add a little drop of kecap manis to the mixture. Yum!

Or, do you like fried rice?

Have you ever heard of Omelet+Instant Noodle?

That's it, I guess! XDDD

[afuna]

EEh! Thank you for the omelette recipe! How do you get it your scrambled eggs to smell like shrimp with just eggs and salt?

Fried rice is good as well :D Though I can go with plain rice or garlic rice in a pinch.

Never heard of omelet + instant noodles, but I have tried putting egg into instant noodles just before I take the noodles out of the pot.

[ivles.livejournal.com]

I don't know probably it's the frying pan. I use wok instead of flat teflon ones.

Heat the wok (if it starts to smoke, then it's too hot), and put a little amount of cooking oil/butter (at the same time make sure the oil/butter is all over the wok, not just the center). Wait until it's quite hot (usually some very small bubble started to go up, don't worry, it won't pop).

After that, pour your egg+salt mixture. Wait until it has some brown areas on the bottom (you can lift it up to peek at it, the areas are probably random), then it's time to flip it. Cook until the it turns a little brown too. That's it, if it doesn't smell like shrimp than perhaps our hens are a bit different. *LOL*

My very simple version of fried rice would be: thin slices of onion+garlic (2+1), a bit of chilli, cooking oil, and salt. Additional things would probably kecap manis, tomatoe sauce, and pepper. And I will toss scramble eggs or sliced sausages or shredded chicken or salted fish or .... boy it's endless, any proteins you can imagine. XDDD The Javanese usually toss some vegetables like 1cm-diced carrot or chopped sawi (here's the picture (http://gotouring.com/razzledazzle/veg/pechay.html)). Not me, tho! I hate sawi. XDDD

Omelet+Instant Noodle:
1. Cook your instant noodle, I prefer Indomie Mi Goreng (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IndoMie_Mi_Goreng) (literally, fried noodle), according to the instruction.
2. Beat two eggs.
3. Mix 1+2 together.
4. Prepare a flat pan with small diameters or size (with wok, it's a little harder), put on cooking oil, plenty of it this time.
5. When alot of air bubble started to go up, pour mixture 3 into the pan, slowly and carefully.
6. Reduce the heat.
7. After 2-3 minutes, flip the egg+noodle, wait 2-3 minutes.
8. And you're done.

I ate them with tomatoe sauce.

[juin.livejournal.com]

...o_o

[afuna]

:D?

[juin.livejournal.com]

:/

[iruka11.livejournal.com]

congrats on your new skill!!! XD

[afuna]

Hahahaha, thank you XD

[chocobojules.livejournal.com]

awww that was me 10 months ago!
I'm cheering you on!!! XD
next week you're going to start making adobo and sweet and sour pork!

[afuna]

Next week? Give me some time to figure things out naman :O

[chocobojules.livejournal.com]

lol, two weeks then. you'll get tired of egg dishes by then :p

[atomic-clay.livejournal.com]

That scrambled egg recipe is something I haven't tried. How much milk do you put? Haha. :p

[afuna]

I didn't measure. Just splashed a bit (I guess to taste?)

[atomic-clay.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I'll remember to try this out some time. :D

[keilexandra]

Where are you going in China? And now you just need to learn how to cook vegetables, because we can't have you dying from vitamin deficiency, can we? :D

[afuna]

Oh. Vegetables D: Can't I just go with fruits instead? No cooking involved either!

[danii06.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! You can survive anywhere with scrambled eggs and instant noodles! :P

Food's cheap in China, but they're mostly fried. Or in the form of noodles or rice toppings. And there's always chinese kangkong on the side! :P

I cooked my own food there not because I want to learn but I eventually got sick of Chinese food (even if it's Peking duck and cured ham :P). Not to mention that I couldn't order food if there are no pictures. :P

Get a recipe book and start practicing na! :P

[afuna]

Yay! *preens* Now I just need to become an expert!

When were you in China? For how long? Which region? I plan to start practicing more soon!

[danii06.livejournal.com]

Zhu Hai and Shen Zhen. :P Hooray for cheap-o electronics. I got an original Sony 2GB USB drive for only 600 pesos :P And I don't know HOW they managed to pirate Apple, but they have fake ipod nanos and shuffle. @__@

Try cooking Adobo or sinigang (both pork). It's fairly easy. Just a matter of adding ingredients at the right time. :P