Cooking

Things for me are so different from in Fargo.  The main difference is not working.  In Fargo, I would spend my off time usually at home.  Lounging on the couch, doing laundry and occasionally doing some good cooking.  I do plenty of lounging on the couch here as well as laundry, but I'm doing more than the occasionally cooking.  




It's no secret that since Ryan and I have been together, my kitchen has been expanding.  It still is.  Our recent purchase has been a sandwich press.  It has reversible plates.  One side is a grill and the other is a griddle.  Ryan made us Cuban Sandwiches.  (P.S. I don't like Cuban Sandwiches.  It's the pickle... it's just weird!)  We can also flatten it out and use it as a cooking surface for things like eggs, bacon and things you would cook on a griddle or a grill. 



The expanding kitchen isn't what has motivated me to start cooking more, but it has helped.  Ryan always wanted a Chicago Style Pizza Pan.  He got himself one.  We have been making Chicago style pizza.  Since we want to do things right, cook books keep showing up.  "The Great Chicago-Style Pizza Cookbook" has been our guide to learn how to do this.  One of my favorite things to make is a red sauce.  Turns out my red sauce works great as a pizza sauce.  The only issue is Ryan and I have very different preferences to what makes a good red sauce.  Can you imagine that I'm the one who likes the sauce spicy?!?  Ryan likes it more simple.  We have been trying to find a good balance of sauce plus toppings.  We used fresh mozzarella.  The mozzarella tastes great, but it is so wet that it's making the pie too wet.  It's still a work in progress but it's delicious trying!!   


For some reason I have been craving chicken.  More specifically southern style deep fried chicken.  I wanted to learn how to make this and make it good.  Unfortunately, Ryan was not interested in helping me.  Cooking has always been something we do together, so I put the crispy, deep fried deliciousness in the back of my mind.  I was still determined to give a fix to my chicken cravings.  I picked up a roaster chicken at the grocery store (after all they were on sale!).  Ryan helped me to take the wishbone out.  I rinsed it out and let it get closer to room temperature.  Ryan helped me truss it.  We seasoned with kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper.  Stuck a thermometer in the bird and popped it in the oven.  Once it hit 165 degrees I pulled it out and let it rest.  We chopped that thing in half after 10 minutes and it was the best chicken of my life.  I have been dreaming about that chicken ever since (as Ryan... he'll tell ya!).  Tomorrow we are having chicken for supper!  


One of our next recipes I want to perfect is Chile Colorado.  We have a couple pork butts in the freezer (unfortunately they are frozen together.  Not sure how how to resolve that.).  Ryan has made this for me a couple of times.  The first time I could not eat it.  There was not enough sour cream in this world to cool it down enough for my palate.  The second time it was milder but still a little too spicy.  We'll figure it out.  I know we will.


Cooking is one thing I have become good at and I enjoy it.  
Do me a favor... what is your favorite dish to cook or to eat?  What is your specialty?  What kind of challenge can you share with me to try to perfect?