The Dummy Cook Greetings

Greetings view from my window, 7 a.m. in the morning

It has been a long time yearning for me to be involved in the magical process called cooking. Yet I didn't have the chance (or courage?) to jump and just try it like my other fellows. When I was a kid, my mother freed me from domestic responsibility as she wanted me to pursue other thing that caught my interest as well; school. I know, it may sound strange, since parents usually encourage their children to have as many interests as possible outside academic education; cooking, music, paintings, other form of arts, writing, sports. But I grew up in a small village where the most educated parents think the best--and perhaps the only--way to go further and survived outside the small boundary of our village is by excelling in formal education. I didn't feel forced or somewhat restrained, because I also love the quiet ambience of library and making acquaintance with books. Yes, yes, perhaps I was the nerdy type back then. But, I really don't mind, since it's what has brought me to where I am now.

But, again, my interests for other things apparently kept safely inside, waiting to resurface when I have enough space for them. Then, once I had enough room on my mind other than how-to-survive-and-not-falling-to-often, I took  a small step in my shabby dorm kitchen four years ago, by making a dish I barely know the ingredients of. I was amazed by how the broth changing smell and color on each addition of ingredients. I was amazed by how it achieved the 'well rounded' aroma of a finished dish when you put everything accordingly. And how you missed the 'well-roundedness' (is that even a word?) if you forget one or two key elements. I thought it was like magic.

And I still think it is.

Now, when I have more time, I just want try more, enjoy more, share the joy, learn more from (many) failures and mistakes which happen...well, quite often. Still, it's fun! Really fun to watch how raw ingredients create such flavor when they're cooked. And also exciting. Exciting to see how the results turn out. I really consider myself as a dummy, or less than that maybe. XD So, what I put here is my trial and error process. I will tell you when it works, and definitely warn you to not go the same road, if I failed.

Enjoy! :)