Almost 3 months ago, I started this blog to bring homemade food recipes to people. I wanted to expand my culinary skills and try new foods. Tonight, I feel like I have failed in ways. But I realize that I held unreal expectations. On one hand, I have discovered a new love of Indian food - naan bread, chicken tikka masala, and I've successfully cooked for my family 90% of the time without having to repeat the same meals over and over (though some are repeats for a reason), and I've been able to control what my family is putting in their bodies.
I've learned to make my own tortillas, and no longer have to buy refried beans, rice-a roni, spice mixes, bread, peanut butter, pesto, roast chickens, alfredo sauce, spaghetti sauce, applesauce, canned fruit, or pickles, thanks to my new recipes and skills as a cook. I am able to embrace recipes with ingredients I'm not aware of, I'm able to use new techniques with little hesitation and I've found that sitting down with a cookbook can be as relaxing as reading my favorite book. My daughter now knows kitchen tips, and will say "we can make this at home huh" instead of needing to pick up any fast food. I've been able to replicate recipes from restaurants, which has helped financially. If we can make it at home, there's no reason to go out and get it.
Finally, even though I have disappointed myself in ways with this blog, I'm happy that my family is learning that not everything has to come from a restaurant in order to taste good, and that there is a certain amount of pride when everyone ooo's and ahhh's over your dishes. I'm going to make a strong effort to come up with meals that aren't only family friendly, or out of the box, but that are just yummy and will allow others to come to love their kitchen. This next week I'm hoping to post some delicious meals, sides and desserts. It test kitchen time!
