One of the side benefits of having taken a vacation was that I got to relax quite a bit at my in-laws' home. With all of the parties and festivities, Mom and I rarely had to cook, and since I'm not all that enamored of cooking (nor is Mom), that suited me just fine.I do, however, love to eat and I love travel, and I've always been a fan of The Food Network. I have lots of shows that I like, but I can't really say one is my favorite, so don't ask. ;) Usually I'm just content to watch the cooking and make comments such as, "Wow, I would never make that!" and, "What the....???" I also like to hear about the favorite restaurants of the celebrity chefs, and if we're going to be visiting one of the cities where these are located, we try to find the restaurants and eat there.
It is a rare occasion that one finds an Indonesian restaurant, though, and never have I seen one showcased or even mentioned on The Food Network. I lament the fact that there is not one near me, and I don't cook that much Indonesian food (the cuisine of my childhood) because my family has never seemed to like the dishes that were presented to them.
Things on all fronts, however, have taken a slight upturn since our trip back east. First and foremost, I FINALLY got to eat some authentic Indonesian food at a fantastic restaurant in Alexandria, VA. This restaurant is not one that has a few dishes that are Indonesian or pale imitations; this restaurant serves ONLY Indonesian food, and the owners are Indonesian. NOW we're talking!
My nephew Jason has been there many times in the past, and because he has been transferred back to Maryland, he met the family and me there while we were in DC. My family? LOVED IT. My husband was nodding and stuffing his face, my daughter gamely tried everything and found several things she loved, and my son even tried new things. Now they're asking me when I'm going to cook some of these dishes!
Now for the reason I'm thanking Food Network (I KNOW - took me long enough!): because I finally started paying attention to how people cook and what makes cooking so enjoyable to some people, I decided to test my newly found knowledge and "experiment" with my cooking. The results? My family gave my two tries resounding thumbs up!
So, I guess I can cook when I put my mind to it, and it's not all that difficult. Now it's time to crack the binding on the Indonesian cookbook and get started. :)
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One of my biggest complaints about Food Network is there is a real lack of ethnic cooking on there. But, I do love the network anyway. I think Anne Burrell is my favorite right now.
And, I think living in an area like D.C. and trying all the great and authentic ethnic restaurants would be a lot of fun!
Congrats on the new found love of cooking!
YAY for cooking!!!! Really, it is a great time to enjoy and have fun and if the food turns out crappy...call for pizza
I like to watch the cooking shows too. But I still haven't found the magic thing about cooking that makes me want to do it.
Jay: Yeah, the travel-type shows have ethnic foods showcase, but the cooking shows are less diverse. I tend to watch more of the entertaining travel-type shows like "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" and "Best Thing I Ever Ate." I also like the food challenge shows and "Dinner Impossible." I like to see Robert Irvine freak out. ;)
I wish I could take a culinary tour of some cities like DC, San Francisco, and Seattle. It would be awesome.
Vinny: I know you love to cook; I'm sure I love it yet, but I don't dread it as much now that my imagination has been sparked. As for just calling for pizza.....well, one of the reasons I'm cooking more is that we can't really afford to call out for pizza or go out to eat as much as usual. :/
Travis: As I told Vinny, I'm still not in love with cooking like he is, but I'm starting to get more creative now. I have yet to try cooking more interesting Indonesian dishes. I need to order more spices for that. But I'm breaking out the rut we were in little by little.
Good for you. I should I learn to cook. We don't have cable so I guess I'll have to use a cookbook or go online.
I love cooking shows even though I am a finicky carnivore who eats the same meats over and over again.
Daddy Forever: I thought all Chinese men could cook? ;P Seriously, my father was an wonderful cook. He and my mom used to have great fun cooking together. Sadly, my husband doesn't have a clue in kitchen. When I ask him to stir something on the stove like soup, he asks, "Should I use a spoon or a fork?" Say what?!
Travis E: Welcome to The Ice Box! My son is a finicky eater, as are many 11-year-old boys, and my husband is to a lesser degree. My husband was raised by good ol' decent Kansas folks who to this day believe that spices consist of two kinds: salt and black pepper. Sigh. That's why I like the cooking shows; I can dream. :)
It all looks good to me. I'd give it a go.
I'm glad you are diving right in and cooking for your family. Way to go.
Have a terrific day. :)
Sandee: Actually, it's a bit easier to think about cooking in the summer, even though we don't want to eat much because of the heat. I have more time to consider what we're going to have. During the school year, things are so hectic that by the time 5:00 rolls around, it's easier to say, "Fend for yourself," or "Let's go out to eat" than to figure out what to make.
Amen, sister. I know that with practice and following the directions in the cook book, you WILL succeed.
Yay for you! Enjoy! Too bad I'm not closer--I'd be happy to be your taste tester.
Cooking isn't really my thing. Food isn't really my thing. I eat to live, that's about it. Would be happy if I never had to eat again. But when I did cook and bake for my boys, it usually turned out well. Where I now live, my friend enjoys cooking, so I haven't done any.
Sis: I just need to patience to do. When I have patience, then I'm successful. That's true for anyone with any endeavor, I believe. For me, cooking does not come easily.
Kila: I wish I didn't have such a love affair with food. If I didn't, then I wouldn't have this weight problem. That said, I'm still trying to enjoy cooking. When I'm successful at it (i.e., when my family enjoys it), then I'm happy and more likely to cook new things again.
One of my forever friends lives in Irian Jaya, Papua
She is in the states right now as her FIL died. '
I've never asked her about Indonesian cuisine.
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