Well, I made it through week three and I am getting more excited about cooking. So, last week instead of cooking stuffed cabbage, I opted for stuffed peppers which means I had a head of cabbage that needed to be used. I remembered a few years ago I tried a cabbage soup recipe that was pretty decent but I couldn’t find the recipe so I do what I normally do and add things that I like to the basic things I remembered. First things first, what do I have on hand because I do not want to go to the grocery store….it is cold outside.
Looking in my refrigerator and cabinets, I had Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage, wine (a true ingredient..really), brown rice, chicken broth, and a little bag of sun-dried tomatoes. Ah yes, this was the beginning of something special. Unfortunately, I did not have savoy cabbage which is a little sweeter so I did have to add Stevia.
This isn’t one of my favorite dishes but it is somewhat healthy and I add a little crushed red pepper and cinnamon…yes cinnamon. It adds a little heat when it goes down. Perfect for those cold days. This stew was topped off with crumbled turkey bacon. Overall, I’d give this meal 3 stars out of five. I was really craving a cheeseburger and I don’t think anything could have satisfied that craving 
.
52 Weeks of Cooking Now Called Cooked!!!
Just as quick as I started, it was over. I unfortunately lost a few weeks due to late nights at work and family obligations. But not to worry, I am still interested in cooking more and will be sharing my experiences and recipes. So no more 52 Weeks of Cooking, but I will soldier on with cooking and it will be now called Cooked! I will update shortly with the last few cooked items and recipes.
Now Cooked – Stuffed Peppers
I am beginning to chronicle my journey in a year of cooking so you may see a few posts that discuss a few meals I cooked earlier. This weeks meal is something I haven’t had since I was a child. Stuffed peppers!!!! Yum. I really like stuffed cabbage, but wanted a change. Besides I got a good deal on green peppers. I am learning to buy what is on sale and plan a dish. So before grocery shopping check your weekly grocery store ads-then search for recipes. This can be money saver and a time saver.
As I prepared this week’s meal, a thought occurred to me. My mother really didn’t spend much time teaching me to cook. She was busy trying to get it done, take care of me, and the family. I find myself asking my mother for recipes and her reply is usually along the lines of I don’t know I just put it together. She has a recipe drawer that is overflowing that she refers to but doesn’t follow them exactly. Thank goodness I benefited from a cooking class in middle school where I learned to make an awesome bunny cake . So good that our neigbor/landlord snuck into our flat and ate one of its arms.
Lesson 2 in my cooking journey-make adjustments or substitutes as you learn the basics. What do I mean? Substitute for healthy options like using turkey burger instead of ground beef. The thing is this, as you make changes to a recipe be mindful that it may change the taste of the dish so be sure to use seasonings that compliment the change. Seasonings that compliment ground beef may be a little different for turkey burger. I wanted a healthier option for stuffed peppers so I used lean turkey burger and brown rice as well as low-fat cheese. It was delicious, I made enough for a week.
Now Cooked – French Toast Sandwich with Turkey Bacon
It’s the first week of cooking and I’ve not gone grocery shopping so, my first meal will be a breakfast. One of the first things I learned to cook was french toast. I was so proud to be able to cook it for my parents and it has remained one of my staples when I want breakfast on a cold winter weekend. Through the years I’ve adapted the recipe but too much.
Today, I wanted to try the french toast sandwich because I was convincing myself to stay away from McDonald’s McGriddles. I was so frustrated with my last purchase being decreased in size but increased cost. I already had the ingredients which meant I could stay in my comfy pajamas.
French toast is quick and easy to make. So if you are afraid to cook, start with this dish to get you excited about cooking. Now I am not one to count calories but I do try to use as many healthy alternatives as I can. As you get comfortable with cooking this dish, you can add your own twist to this recipe.
