I am not a creative cook like so many of you. Nor do I cook intuitively like others or you. I can follow a recipe really well, but have fallen into habits and we pretty much eat the same things all the time.
While on my four-month sabbatical from cooking, I decided to try to do a better job of trying new things. For years I have cut interesting-sounding recipes out of magazines and piled them on top of my cookbooks, but at least once a year I go thru and throw most of them away.
But, this week I tried something new.
Found a good sounding recipe that started with many mushrooms sauted and then turned into a yummy mushroom sauce, added to gnocci and tuna. A bit of seasoning and parmesan cheese on the top, then pop into the oven and voila!
Easy to make, smelled good, looked good ...
And, tasted really good, too. Sent me immediately back to the fourth grade and Girl Scouts. You know when everyone learned how to make Tuna Noodle Casserole.
Take away the seasonings (basil and red pepper) and crumble some potato chips on top and that is exactly what I made! It was good, but I don't think that I will make it again - even in this "adult version".
Webb, I do remember making tuna casserole in my early 20s. Wasn't some sort of soup involved? I love you used gnocchi. Good comfort food! Bonnie
ReplyDeleteIt does look good and I love mushrooms. But I am not a true connaisseuse of tuna casserole, not having grown up with it.
ReplyDeleteI do applaud your branching out and trying new dishes. Like you, I follow recipes and am not creative. I love to eat well and like to have someone else having done the homework. Then I try the new stuff out on my friends :-).
I do that, too, try new stuff on guests. Drives Mitchell crazy!
DeleteClassic Girl Scout tuna noodle casserole is one can of mushroom soup, one can of tuna, a bunch of cooked spaghetti and crushed potato chips on top - all baked in a casserole. A great dish for a 10-year old to make, but not so exciting today. Have already trashed the recipe!
Good for you! The important thing is you tried a new recipe, even if you don't make it again :)
ReplyDeleteI love that classic tuna noodle casserole recipe. I'd love to make it, but I can't find cream of mushroom soup here. I've thought about fiddling with the recipe and trying to make it without it. Maybe I'll give it a go this weekend :)
Sara, you can just make a white sauce in place of the cream of mushroom soup. Ramp up the seasonings a bit.
DeleteI love to cook. Since going back to work, I've gotten to cook a lot less. I try to try new things and I read cookbooks for fun. I love food and eating is what it is!
ReplyDeleteI am spending today making split pea soup, roasting carrots and parsnips, broiling a skirt steak, and making the stock for harira. I like to make big batches of stuff and freeze it so that on worknights, we have something good.
I also made some mustard.
I wish I liked to exercise as much as I like to eat.