Boredom Chowder

“Worries go down better with soup than without.”

-Jewish Proverb

So few people appreciate the power of a good bowl of soup.  You are sitting there, chilled and sad, and then you have a deep spoonful full of a broth that will stick to your ribs and warm you heart.

When I feel the worst or if I feel bored, I tend to lean towards soup-making. Once upon a time I had no idea how to cook, and then I learned speedily, and now I never look back.  I remember as a child thinking that soup was exactly one thing; a can full of something.  Once I realized I could make my own, I’ve never looked back.

I have the specific skill both my mother and sister have (that probably dates back further than that even) to not follow recipes.  I was afraid of the oven for years (as previously posted) and then I came quick to cooking.  After a few easy recipes, I was on top of the earth.

Cutting to the point, bouillon cubes are the freaking bomb.  You can buy a pack of 8 and have so many soups-worth of cooking from them!  I never buy stock anymore.

I have some chowder a’ stewing right now in my crockpot.  I don’t even anticipate eating this until Monday, but that is how ahead I plan.

My house smells awesome!

Eggplant stew

I knew the oven was something to fear.

I have been cooking for three plus years now.  In my mind, on a professional level.  Ask my sister, she might agree.

Ask my ex-boyfriend how difficult it was to make a darn cucumber and cream cheese sandwich.  He used to insist on making them for me, based on how easily I would slice skin when trying to slice cucurbitaceae.

What you need to know is that when I was a non-descript young age, my wonderful father told me about how when he was stove-height, that the hot electric coils looked cozy, and he put his chin on them.  I’ve never seen my father without a beard, but that’s a scarring situation..

Ergo, I inherited a stove and oven fear.

Then I was destined to be in a relationship where I was forced to make food.  Up to being 22, I avoided the oven like the plague.  But how do you just sit idly by when the person you want to be with is only heating up circular bread with pasta sauce?  Especially when that’s one of your least favorites?!

My first meal cooked was something out of an easy cookbook Molly gave me.  My third recipe, I swear to god, were these veggie pesto eggrolls that my entire family hold me accountable for now.

I just want to remind you that I was initiated in the land of food by a horror story from my young father.

My mother can tell you much better about my fear; she would ask me to get things out of the oven in attempts to save me from what my fate at that time was sealing.

I suppose it takes dating a baby to realize how much of an adult you are.  Ex-boyfriend guy wanted to make a frozen pizza every night.

This post isn’t about him actually.  You know who it’s about?  It’s about me, and this great new person in my life named Otto.

Jims words

It’s actually mostly about the fact that I didn’t realize that my “warming drawer” is essentially just a drawer to being 400 degrees.

But I would also like to mention that I am clumsy as fuuuurrrk.

This amazing person I literally just met nearly took care of my finger better than I ever could.  First of all, how cool is it to meet a person who wants to do that?

Second is, how cool is it that you do not need help to live?  You just thrive on loving those who want to help you, and you wonder how you got so lucky to meet them.

Don’t place your chin on a stove.  Don’t finger hot hot pans.  Do be careful when you’re cutting gourds.  I am a great chef.  Please ask me advice on how to cook and not how to be hurt.