Parrot on a PorchA Journey Toward the Little Mansion Dream

Cooking is one skill that I have greatly improved on when we moved in here in our own little abode. I am not really a kitchen person since we grew up having a cook in my folks’ house. Then when we moved to Frisco after the wedding, there was my Mother-in-Law who did the cooking for everyone in the household including my Sister-in-Law’s family. But everything changed starting on the first day that we were on our own. I had tons of cookbooks that served as my guide and even up to this day, I continually depend on these references to cook meals for my boys. There are occasions when I could not perfect a certain dish but just the same, the effort is well appreciated which drives me more to learn. So I’m in a constant pursuit for more recipes that I can cook for them and for me to practice my cooking skill on. It’s great that cooking references are not centered on just cookbooks anymore. There’s the web where I can google gazillion recipes plus cooking related applications on the latest gadgets such as the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. One example is the iPhone application called Mixing Bowl by Meredith Corporation, designed by Sourcebits. It is a lifestyle app where one can sign up to a group of foodies and discuss, share and swap recipes with daily. I am yet to download this but judging from this preview, I’m getting a glimpse how good the iPhone App Development was.

Sourcebits also caters to designing, building and working on iPhone Games Development, Blackberry, iPad, Mobile, Mac and Android App Development. I wish they create more cooking apps for newbie cooks like me.

My boys and I spent our Sunday morning window shopping in the mall for appliances and furniture that we will soon equip Little Mansion. By the way, we checked out the construction last Saturday and it’s nice to see that the second floor has been done. According to the foreman, they will now proceed with the roofing this week. As I was saying, we had a fun time canvassing for stuffs at the Home and Appliance section of the mall. Albeit we’re having little debates and we don’t agree on some things like the preferred brand to get or the style and design of a furniture, I love the fact we both have a “say” on these things and that everything gets settled right away after we compromise. One particular instance was about the barbecue grills selection. Roasted meats like chicken and pork chops are the husband’s favorites and his prayers are answered when the contractor allotted an open space in the service area (near the dirty kitchen) where we can mount a grill.

27 inch Built-In Lynx Grill with Rotisserie

He’s insisting that we get built in grills. I believe he got inspiration from the grills he saw at Outdora as the descriptions of his desired types match these Lynx Grill models (see pictures above). He even mentioned about Rotisserie features which, he says, will be useful when having a big party or if grilling under time constraints. While I agree that these models are heavy-duty welded and it has superb design and high end styling, I don’t think that having a built in type is necessary in our little home.

E250s Pedestal Electric Fire Magic Grill

I prefer to have the electric free standing fire magic grills. They’re equally durable but they are sleek and can be stored easily. I was thinking of using the open space for something else so I am refuting his built in grill idea. Also, I think an electric one is better since fuels like natural gas or the liquid propane isn’t good for my son’s respiratory ailment. Another point I’m raising, I like a free standing grill so we can bring it along when we have a swimming party or a picnic adventure somewhere else.

We haven’t agreed to what we’ll get but it seems I’ll have this my way after I gave in to his preferred air conditioner type.

Okay, I have a confession to make.

I like cooking.

BUT I like and find joy MORE in eating than cooking. LOL.

I guess this is a drawback if you grew up with a household help. Added to that, we grew up without a mom by our side – there’s no one to teach us home economics. My siblings and I aren’t that quite accustomed with kitchen utensils. Likewise here in my in-laws’ house, we’ve got someone who does the cooking.

Of course, somehow, I know the basics of cooking like how to fry and how to cook rice the traditional way (the term “gatang” and measuring through the lines in the fingers and all). I also know some basic cooking terms –thanks to our Cooking class way back High School years. But ask if I know how to cook the common Pinoy viands like adobo, sinigang, nilaga..niyahaha! I’m shamefaced. I really love to learn how to do it but sometimes too much online works and babysitting tasks get in the way before lunch time that I barely have time to do it. Further, I have tried several recipes before (weeks after getting married), with my fave cookbooks as my guide, that I even blogged about my own cooked meals. So don’t think that I am that totally idiotic about cooking. There’s my Pineapple Meatloaf, Chili Wings, Hot Burgers, Leftover Fried Rice, Pork Pina Humba (the husband’s favorite), Coleslaw, Pina Bistek and Breaded Pork Chops.

Here’s even my own Carbonara that I cooked for our Christmas eve last December. This is the only recipe that I know by heart. Naks!

On a brighter note, I just have started my own food blog entitled, Cook and Brew so hopefully, it will prompt me to get into some cooking groove.

AND, I promised and I don’t have a choice either, that come the time when we’ll be on our own, there’s no one to cook but me.