The Not-So Naked Chef

I cooked! Yes, that's right! These past few days the world (and my friends) have witnessed the ultimate miracle! Well, perhaps not ultimate but definitely up there! It's late so I shan't elaborate (hey that rhymes) and I must to beddy byes, but I did want to let you all in on my secret....ssshhhhh......

SARAH ACTUALLY COOKED A MEAL!


OR TWO!!

OR THREE!!!

Mmm, can't believe it? Unfortunately I don't have any photos (I'm not that lame... well, someone did take a snap of the gorgeous pavlova I made, all pretty with strawberries and raspberries and blackberries and PASSIONFRUIT! Yes, I even splurged on the passionfruit. They came from New Zealand... And they were expensive. VERY expensive. That made me sad.... But not for long! Coz i had PAVLOVA! From AUSTRALIA! YAY!), however, what I do have is a big grin from ear to ear because I achieved the impossible.

I know, I talk about food all the time, but that doesn't mean I can actually cook it. I wish. Well, perhaps I wish I had the fondness of cooking. Maybe it's just that my apartment's kitchen isn;t so inspiring... Okay, now I'm just looking for excuses.

THURSDAY: Rebecca and I decided that we were craving a home-cooked meal. I mean, I am so sick of eating other people's restaurant crappy food, I miss my mum's cooking so much, on Thursday night I was begging for some delicious home cooked dinner. And i mean begging. Well, not really. But it sounds good :D
So we bought a kosher chicken and slathered it with kosher bbq sauce (but before that I was asked to cut up the chicken into piece... Nah uh, Sarah doesn't do that. She ain't hacking no chick to pieces. It's just not my thing. Besides, I used to be vegetarian for heaven's sake!) I offered to make roast potatoes with rosemary and salad. I know, it's a start. Peeling those damn potatoes was a bitch though because we don't have a peeler. So I used a knife. A blunt knife. And Sarah doesn't like knives very much... Actually, not at all. But i peeled all the potatoes, made a damn good salad, and helped out with the chicken. And we were satisfied. Amen.

FRIDAY: I was invited to my friend Krystal's house for dinner because her Mum was coming from Texas to visit her. And they were making sushi. And handrolls. And inside out rolls. And miso soup. And Sarah was happy. (Why does food please me so much? Maybe because I eat crap most of the time here? Sometimes I can;t even be bothered eating because I don't like the food. But I suppose it's good for my stomach and chins *wink) Earlier that day I recieved a MOST FANTASMIC SUPERB MAGNIFICENT SURPRISING PACKAGE from Mum and Dad... complete with NesCafe Coffee, Minties, Dairy Milk CHoccies, Tim Tams and good ol PAVLOVA!

I began writing this blog thinking that it will be two lines. I really ought to go to sleep. But I must finish...

Krystal is now one of my closer friends at Penn, and I was flattered that she asked me to come meet her Mum. I didn't know what to bring to dinner, so I decided to share some Aussie love and let them eat cake. Or Pav.
Searching for the cream to cover my sacred pavlova was another epic tale perhaps for another time. Let's just say it took me forty five minutes or so, four or five people (not including consulting Krystal and Rebecca for the American definition of cream - apparently it's called "Whipping Cream" or "Heavy Cream". Yes, I don't want WHIPPED cream or FROSTING or CREAM THAT GOES WITH MY COFFEE!) only to discover that the grocer doesn't carry it! ARHHHHH! I went a bit nuts. But it turned out ok. Whipped cream out of a spray can nonetheless. I can hear your collective gasp of horror, but one has to make do. (I even began beating a carton of 'light cream' in a pot with a mix master...I was desparate.)

SATURDAY: Gourmet sandwiches that could even rival those of mother dearest. It remined me of home so much.

SUNDAY: Candied yams. A Caribbean favourite. Tonight I had a potluck dinner with Amanda, Lauren (editor-in-chief of First Call) and Anna (another editor of First Call) and I was the only one who actually cooked. It took me a couple hours (oy vey!) but I did it. I peeled the damn sweet potatoes with a KNIFE (nearly chopping some fingers in the act), while listening to Lauren's boy troubles, created a sugary/caramel sauce for my delicious yammies while listening to Amanda's health issues, and cleaned up the dishes in silence... Ahhhh. Just kidding. Dinner was really nice, I was very proud of my creation, regardless that it took me a while for its completion. And that is all, folks. A detailed post about Sarah's cooking skills. How engaging.

She finally did it.