Monday, December 21, 2009

SÜP • THE TESTIMONIIAL OF A KITCHEN IDIOT

or YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT FROM ROOKIE COOKIE

Okay, it’s not so much that I can’t cook. It’s that I really hate doing it. I’m using the word hate and all it’s force to describe how I feel about cooking at this point in my life. Nevertheless, people gotta eat, right? So from time to rare time I turn on some music in the kitchen and make a big mess in the name of crafting something that tastes good. Though, due to my disdain, my practice sessions are infrequent and it shows in my ability to do things like cut a tomato and, oh, boil water.

Whitney has been working on a soup-from-anything guide, and because I'm culinarily inept, I had the pleasure of taking it for a test drive this last Thursday.

Okay, not so much the pleasure as the opportunity to be the first one to give it a whirl.

So I did my sisterly duty--because, if nothing else, those who know me very well know that I am loyal and supportive.

Because it was just my spouse and me for Thursday dinner, and we generally ignore leftovers, I halved everything.

My selections from each category:
Aromatics • 1/4 yellow onion and 3 stalks celery sautéed in olive oil
Seasonings • the curry blend
Vegetables/beans • 1 cup garbanzo beans and 1 cup cannellini beans
Liquid • vegetable stock
Additions • 1 cup brown rice
The result: a simple soup tasty enough for The Husband to assure me that had it been served in a restaurant, he wouldn’t have sent it back. Well that’s something, at least.

The point of my telling about this particular foray in the kitchen: after a little feedback from me, a kitchen novice (I have to ask questions like, What’s the difference between diced and chopped?), the soup guide is done and ready for download.

Folks, this thing is brilliant. If I can follow it to the point of a successful homemade soup without the need for bandaids or a takeout menu, anyone can.

For ease of access, Whitney had me make the guide into a downloadable PDF that you can print out and put on the fridge or tape to the inside of your cupboard.

Head HERE to download and profusely thank my sister for making your life so much easier. It's soup season, folks, and with Whit's help you can easily have different soup every night of the week. 20 minutes for prep and then you can blog, clean, read, do whatever while it simmers itself into a delicious medley of gut-warming goodness.

Tell your friends about it. Tell your family. Tell a coworker. Send 'em all to download The Guide. Its ease is revolutionary and we oughta spread the word.

When it comes to having confidence in the kitchen, I’m severely lacking; but with the simplicity of this guide, if I invited someone over for dinner at the last minute, I know I could take what’s on hand in my cupboards and fridge and make a soup worthy of compliments. Or at least the assurance that it won’t be sent back.

13 comments:

Misti said...

I will miss your posts! Happy writing!

Winder said...

Bummer for me I'll miss getting to know you. Alas, I am sure you'll be back. So long until then it will be like a 2nd Christmas when you return.

Cheesy I know, but sincere.

Unknown said...

I'm always looking for ways to make foods I love as simple and homemade as possible. This soup guide IS revolutionary and I thank you and your sister for bringing it to us. Have a happy Christmas! I look forward to you blogging again, whenever that may be. Take care!

Rabid said...

And all these years I thought blogging was real writing. Huh.

L said...

Rabid darling, college professors refer to blogging as brainstorming or creative warmup. Funny huh? They actually suggest blogging before working on a paper. I pen several of mine prior to knocking out papers or even case notes.

Sparks my dear, have yourself a wonderful Christmas and joyous New Year. Relish in the hiatus but know your saucy posts will be missed.

Mette said...

i'm downloading it.
i hardly ever make soup. The only person i know who can make soup is my dad, and so I leave it to him. I'm hoping the genes will flourish ones I settle in a house and have to start thinking about making food three times a day. I'm not there yet though. Phew.

About the pause. I will miss your textful posts. Really. And I who finally started to actually read every single post you posted. Oh well, we all need breaks. :) Good luck with whatever you are writing. And dont stop blogging completely, remember - you need to purge.

Mette said...

Oh, and Merry Christmas. :)
Have a blessed one.

My25Cents said...

A hiatus? I don't remember the Council of Me approving this request. If you will refer yourself to my carefully crafted contract (10x as fast as you can!)you'll notice that the longest break allowed without being accused of breach of contract is -- let me check ---

2 days.

Haven't changed your mind? Ah, phooey. I'm on a hiatus from my own blog so I can't blame you. I'll miss your daily 'non-writing' exercises.

Merry Christmas to you. I hope the husband is pleasantly surprised with what you've concocted this year.

Jessica said...

Good for you for taking a break. Bad for the rest of us, but I suppose this blog isn't completely about us now, is it?

Happy Christmas.

Jodi said...

Merry Christmas Sparkler!

Ryan said...

happy hiatus; the greatest holiday of all, when you are the reason for the season.

i enjoy soup.

Kelsey Carreon said...

Sad for the hiatus, but I am sure it is needed if you are working on other things. I love the soup sheet! Brilliant!

On Chestnut said...

Not a problem! I love them,so it was easy to song your praises! A lot of my friends are hooked now since I posted so hopefully you will reap the benefits. I am all about creative things and spreading the word about them. I can't wait to place an order...need to recover from the Christmas spending first and then can justify it! Can't wait to see what you come up with next.