Food - Making use of my Cookbooks.

When it comes to maneuvering in the kitchen..ya girl is nice with the pots and pans. I enjoy cooking for large crowds and and during the holidays. It's funny, because my family knows that when I'm in the kitchen, no one is allowed to help me. And in the off chance I do ask for help, I don't know how to let go and let them take control (can we say OCD). I guess you have to enjoy cooking to understand. I like things done a certain way or I want to use certain ingredients...it's a process, I know. Having the satisfaction of seeing everyone's face of delight does something to me. For a while, I was in a slump and everyday cooking was starting to bore me. Lately, however, I have been in the mood to experiment with cooking. I have tons of cookbooks, but I hardly open them. What's the use of having a cookbook if you're not going to use it? Is it there to collect dust or be a pretty adornment sitting on your bookshelf? 

So I picked up one of my books, wiped the dust off, and I flipped through the pages until I came across the dish I was going to make. I'm a seafood lover and this particular dish caught my eye. It's from Chef Gerry "G" Garvin's cookbook, Dining In. If you don't have his cookbook, no worries, here's the link with the recipe. The other thing about using a recipes, is you can add or take away anything you want. For the linguine dish, I incorporated lobster to complement the scallops...and BOOOOY...was my mouth happy that I did.  Let me show you what I'm talking about.....try not to drool all over yourself, I know that's hard to do right now ;-D

Don't be afraid to experiment in the kitchen. Think of it as your lab where you will create wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. And if you have earned your stripes in the kitchen, be open to trying something different. So pull out your pots and pans and get ready to " put your foot in it". This one experience with my cookbook that was collecting dust has recharged my appetite to create wonderful meals for my family...and seeing how they enjoy my masterpiece makes it ALL worth my while.

So come on and join me in creating or recreating some of your favorite dishes. What's the one thing you make that everyone can't get enough of, share it in the comments below along with a photo of you favorite dish. Until next time...Stay Chef'd Up Fabulous!!!