I Promise This Is Not Becoming A Food Blog
So, more BIG milestones yesterday in terms of the Newbie in the Kitchen department. First? MOST INSANE INJURY EVER!
I was cooking chicken (with bones!) and got to the part where you take the chicken out of the water and for some reason I thought it would be good to DUMP the ENTIRE POT into the strainer in the sink. As opposed to maybe picking the chicken out with tongs first like I normally do. No…my brain stopped working and I dumped the entire BOILING pot into the strainer. So…can you guess what happened? The scalding broth splashed up and BURNED MY FACE. Somehow, I burned my face with chicken broth. I’m very impressive.
BUT…there is also good news! I took that chicken? And I made a casserole of my OWN creation! And it tasted good. I had several things I needed to clear out…some sour cream, some crackers, some green beans…I threw it all together with a few bonus items and totally cooked a good casserole! Everyone liked it! I cooked something not from a recipe…I cooked it from…my brain! My yummy brain!
(Suddenly this entry is getting weird.)
And now…THE BEST PART! I picked up the kids after school yesterday and one of LilZ’s friends needed a ride home. One the way home he said, “Did you make those yummy pumpkin muffins that LilZ brought to school that day? THOSE WERE SO GOOD!”
Totally worth any chicken broth burns in the future to know I can at least impress my son’s friends with my cooking.
Can I ask why when you cook chicken you are not saving the broth for other reciepes?
Because I’m new and I don’t even have any recipes yet that call for broth…maybe someday!
sorry I didn’t mean to offend.
Not offended at all…it was a good question!
From the unwanted hints department: When I cook chicken/make broth I use my spaghetti pot. You just lift the strainer out of the pot- no pouring.
Oddly, I don’t usually use the spaghetti pot for actual spaghetti.
Boiling chicken you are halfway to making chicken stock! Toss in some carrots, onions, celery, turnips and let it all boil….save the stock for when you have a recipe that calls for it.
Or…, strain the broth, toss in some of your shredded chicken, add some store bought noodles ( a nice short thick noodle like a Kluski noodle) and you have some chicken soup! (or rice)
Yes I was about to ask the same question about the broth. Of course so much of the time I save the broth in the fridge and then don’t end up using it. And then I never have any when I need it. I think this is one of those things you’re supposed to buy insane amounts of at the store so you always have a stockpile. I forget to do that.
I did a simple meal last night that your family might like. I’ll email you the recipe.
Wow, I’m learning so much from your blog – and not just from you! I never knew there was such a thing as a spaghetti pot, for example. Craziness!
Yikes, be careful with the hot liquids. But don’t we all learn through burns? Wait that sounded wrong. You are going to be the coolest mom ever now.
Leftovers casserole that tasted yummy? No more saying you’re not a cook, because you definitely are. I’m stealing the spaghetti pot suggestion (now I need to go buy one, because I don’t use one for making my pasta) and in exchange I’ll leave the tip that chicken broth freezes well. So, instead of putting it in the fridge and having to use it up, you can just freeze it for when you’re making quick soup or whatever two months later. Also, using chicken broth in place of water for things like boiling rice can be amazing.
I have to say thanks. I cooked on Monday for my husband after a long time – from scratch and when he called me from work after he ate he said he felt so loved when he was eating his meal. No no it wasn’t a hint to cook more because we both have crazy lives and schedules at the moment, it was just his way of saying thanks. So I’m sharing that thanks with you since I was motivated to go back to cooking after reading your blogs
You are SO a cook! Chicken with bones, your own recipe, cooking injuries…
I am so excited for you!
Definitely a major cooking milestone! heh. You rule!
Congratulations! You’re not a cook until you’ve felt your own inflicted pain! Kind of cheesy (and totally not my style) but I just awarded you “One Lovely Blog” http://www.forthebirdsblog.com/2009/10/call-it-fate-call-it-karma.html
Cheers!