Cooking vs. Baking

So my parents have been gone since Sunday night.. For those of you thinking "why does that matter?", I will tell you - I still live at home.  I can hear your giggles now (Carl and Melissa).  I moved back home a year ago and the sister and brother are convinced that I will be here forever.  I've become conditionally comfortable with that.  Like when I have the house to myself... when it's the weekend... etc.


So anyway, I was at home Sunday night and decided to cook for myself.  I went to the grocery store and bought food for the week and general necessities that I noticed mom and dad needed at home (see, I'm a good tenant).  Got home, broke out a bottle of red wine, and put marinade on some beef.  So long story, short I had beef and potatoes.  Here is my recipe:


Beef:
- Beef tips (one lb) marinated in allegro original marinade for 2 hours
- Saute in a skillet for 15 minutes with the leftover marinade from the bag


(..........yep, that's it!)


Potatoes: 
- Saute mushrooms and onions in water and a teaspoon of olive (or grape seed) oil
- When they're as cooked as you like, add in diced green peppers (you want them a little crunchy still), and some garlic flakes (I use a lot because I love garlic.... "add to taste".
- Pre-soften 3 medium-sized potatoes in the microwave for 4 minutes (be sure to poke holes in them so they don't explode)
- Cube the potatoes
- Toss the potatoes in the pan with the mushrooms, onions and peppers, and add a tablespoon of light butter
- Move 'em around until they're nice and golden brown


Plate the food and enjoy.  Alone.


So back to the dating website.  I can't remember if I told you or not but I've canceled my subscription (whoo!)  This isn't going to happen again.  I am so happy to be done with that stuff.  But I still ate dinner alone. Dang.  Where are mom and dad when you've over-cooked?!


So then I was feeling creative and decided to bake.  Melissa can tell you: "Rebecca can not bake".


A few years ago (like in 1998) I was baking brownies.  I accidentally put the frosting packet in with the "just-add-water" brownie mix.... When baked, the brownies turn into a chocolate flavored hockey puck.  WHERE WERE MY PARENTS DURING THIS ORDEAL?!  It was a learning experience for me.  When I have a 9 year-old, make sure Melissa is around to help them bake.  


So about 4 years after that, I decided to make cookies... If I was old enough to babysit, I was old enough to bake cookies without burning the house down.  I went through the recipe line by line, tossed the first pan in the oven, and after 12 minutes, pulled out a pan covered in a messy goo.  So I figured it was because I didn't wait for the alarm to sound that said the oven was pre-heated.  So I tried another pan.  Same thing.  I went through the recipe to "troubleshoot" and learned that I missed a seemingly important ingredient.  


Flour.


So I tried (on Sunday) to bake again... I was attempting "healthy cookies" (first mistake).  Whole wheat flour and splenda.  When they came out of the oven they looked like mini-muffins.  and they were solid.  I still haven't figured where I went wrong but I QUIT.  I'm not meant to bake.


Nestle Tollhouse and I are new BFF's.  Buy dough, break apart squares, put in oven, enjoy.  Match made in heaven.


So here I sit.  Cookies in hand (yes there are still some left from Sunday: self-control), and satisfied as a kid that just colored on the walls.
No pictures today... too busy eating cookies.


Just another day in the life!!