Questions about food

I got this from a blog called I’ve Got a Little Space to Fill, and decided that despite the fact that I had not been tagged, the questions were fun and I’d do it anyway.

The rules for Memes:

1. Answer the questions.
2. Link to the person who tagged you in your post.
3. Tag at least 3 other bloggers.
4. Let them know you’ve tagged them by commenting on their blog with an invite to participate.

When was the most recent time you were burned?

Usually when I burn myself I do it on the edge of a frying pan. And I do it twice, just to make sure it really hurts.

Can you cook?

Yes! I can!

If yes, name your 3 specialties:

1. Lemon and garlic roast chicken
2. Pastistio*
3. Orzo salad with chickpeas and dill

If yes, do you like to cook?

Yes, I really do, especially when someone is happy to eat whatever I have made with me.

If no, do you want to be able to cook?

I’d love to be a better cook. Taking a year to do a quick chef class would be awesome.

What color is your kitchen?

Off white with light wood cabinets. There was a picture in an old issue of Martha and the kitchen was light purple and white, which sounds awful, but it was so pretty and fresh looking. One day…
Do you bake?

Sometimes.

If yes, name your 3 specialties:

1. Banana Bread
2. Cupcakes
3. Spicy ginger cookies

If yes, do you like to bake?

I do, but I prefer cooking because I can be more creative. Baking is too scientific.

If no, do you want to bake?

I’d love to bake a loaf of bread every day. Just make it part of my daily routine.

What color is your apron?

Red. From Value Village, it reads “Got more time for misbehavin’ since I started microwavin’” and it’s tacky as hell. I love it and used to wear it out on the town.

I doubt that anyone that reads my blog would be willing to participate, but I will call out Shannon, Ali and Emily.

Do it.

On a different note: I am not off to Ontario Place this afternoon due to a brief but horrific illness that I endured for the past 24 hours. I woke up yesterday feeling ok, but a little sluggish, ate breakfast and went out with the people I live with. I wasn’t hungry, just a little gurgly in the guts, and really tired. Went home, and went back to bed…Then I started puking, which I hate doing, and threw up a bunch more times until bed time (bed time? I’d hardly been OUT of bed). And the other end…Well. I am feeling better today, but after 24 hours of not eating and being forced, against my will, to rid my body of all food within, I am weak and pathetic. Ugh.

*Pastitsio

for the pasta:

course salt and ground pepper
1 pound penne, cooked and drained
2 pounds ground lamb
2 medium onions, diced
1/2 cup red wine
1 can tomato paste
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

for the sauce:

6 tbsp butter
1/2 cup flour
3 cups milk
1/8 tsp cayenne powder
1/4 cup parmesan

1. Preheat oven to 375. Cook lamb over medium heat, 6-8 minutes. Add onions, cook further 5 minutes.

2. Drain fat from pan, add wine (which I never did), cook til it’s evaporated, 5 minutes.

3. Stir in tomato paste, cinnamon, 2 cups water, stirring occasionally til thick, 15-20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Make parm sauce while this meat stuff is cooking.

5. Add pasta to lamb mix, put in a casserole dish, pour cheese sauce over top, bake 35-40 minutes….

Cheese sauce:

1. Melt butter, whisk in flour until incorporated, about 30 seconds. In slow, steady stream, whisk in milk until there are no lumps.

2. Cook, whisking often, until mixture is thick and bubbly, and coats the back of a wooden spoon, 6-8 minutes. Stir in cayenne and parm.

It’s easy. I think I used a tube of lamb. And I dont know what a pound of pasta looks like, maybe a bag? Half a bag?