I love to cook. I love perusing cookbooks . . . thumbing through food magazines . . . even watching cooking tv programs (usually if I'm stuck on a treadmill at the gym). I love trying new recipes and I like to be fairly adventurous with my cooking.
But.
One thing I rarely do . . . is go off the grid. . . and just . . . cook freestyle. Without a recipe.
But I really want to!
Tom and Brian had no end of fun-at-my-expense when I brought this cookbook home last summer.
I know.
I bought a book. . . to learn to cook without a book.
I know.
Anyway, this book is GREAT. It provides "formulas" for really tasty recipes that you can cook up using what's just . . . around. It includes step-by-steps . . . kind of like "training wheels" . . . to get you used to thinking about cooking without a typical recipe.
What it's done for me . . . is given me the confidence to just . . . step away from the edge . . . and cook!
Last Sunday, Tom and I were exhausted. Holidays. Sickness. Brian. Our cupboards were rather bare. We didn't feel like going out. But we were hungry. I checked through the pantry, and I found this . . .
A couple of onions. A jar of Kalamata olives. Leftover ham. A package of sun-dried tomatoes. A can of artichoke hearts. Pasta. A tiny little bottle of white wine.
And what did I do?
Dinner!
Off the grid -- with great results! (Who's laughing now?)
Cooking off the grid is so much fun! Since it is not part of my character to read and follow instruction I usually cook by "idea". I read a recipe in a book or on the web and then "wing it" with whatever is in my pantry. Some of our best dinners are dishes that will never be repeated, but are very memorable. Your pasta looks very tasty (and aromatic!).
Posted by: margene | 01/10/2013 at 08:31 AM
Doug would curl up into the fetal position. ;-) You're my hero!
Posted by: Patty | 01/10/2013 at 08:35 AM
Looks great, Kym!
I love to cook freestyle.
I have a hard time recreating the same dish, however... ;-)
Posted by: Chiko | 01/10/2013 at 09:22 AM
Good for you! Some veggies, meat and pasta always results in a great combination!
Posted by: Carole | 01/10/2013 at 09:31 AM
That is funny, but I totally get it!!
I have become much more free about substituting or even eliminating ingredients in a recipe, at using a recipe more as inspiration. It helps to be aware and know what combinations of ingredients, flavors, and spices you like... and then being adventurous! It also helps to have willing subjects.
Posted by: Vicki | 01/10/2013 at 10:22 AM
Your off the grid dinner looks great! Another book similar to "Cook Without a Book" that you might enjoy is Ratio by Michael Ruhlman: http://www.amazon.com/Ratio-Simple-Behind-Everyday-Cooking/dp/1416571728/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357834076&sr=1-1&keywords=ratio
No fancy food porn pictures, but it's my most-used book in the kitchen.
Posted by: bonny | 01/10/2013 at 11:14 AM
Good for you! I actually find myself freestyling quite a bit. As a result, we rarely have the same thing twice, since I'm just using up whatever's on hand.
Posted by: Cheryl S. | 01/10/2013 at 11:49 AM
Me! But only because again we share this "problem" although lately I did find myself cooking without a recipe and I didn't buy that book nor did I know of it existence :)
Good luck with the freestyle cooking.
Posted by: Rachel | 01/10/2013 at 01:14 PM
looks delicious! what a confidence builder, too, huh? I find the key to cooking in general is having a well-stocked pantry with stuff that's versatile (like I wish my closet were :-)
Posted by: Mary | 01/10/2013 at 02:07 PM
Fireman could eat like that every night he says....
Posted by: kathy b | 01/10/2013 at 04:53 PM
That looks and sounds yummy! (I was going to suggest stir-frying various stuff and serving it over pasta, but it looks like you came up with that all on your own. (Great minds think alike.))
Posted by: kmkat | 01/10/2013 at 07:14 PM
Isn't it fun to just look at what you have a make something new? It may never be able to be repeated but that's ok too. :)
xoxo
Posted by: Marilyn | 01/10/2013 at 11:18 PM
I love the tiny bottle of wine.
It makes perfect sense to use a book to get a feel for winging it. I think it takes time to get comfy with the idea of putting meals together out of thin air.
Well done!
Posted by: Cookie | 01/11/2013 at 12:26 AM
Looks delicious! Congratulations on going off the grid--getting the book is hilarious. I sometimes read cook books cover to cover.
My mom often cooked without a recipe, and I started doing it as a way to try to get out of cooking. I figured I'd make some pretty poor dinners. Well, my threat of "I'm going to make things up!" backfired. Some of my made up recipes have become staples at our house. I knew I should have breaded the pork chops with crushed froot loops.
Posted by: Brenda | 01/15/2013 at 08:00 PM