Let's Get Cookin'!

Cooking in the kitchen with John. This isn’t the first time I’ve cooked.

I don’t really remember the first time I got to cook. I mainly watch people cook but not actually cook.

Maybe it’s because… I tend to burn donuts instead of regular food. This one time, the power went out and it came back on and I tried to set the timer/clock. But, Mom had put [Krispy Kreme] donuts in there and I didn’t know about them. I was just trying to fix the clock and instead hit start. They turned out Krispy Black, so it wasn’t that fresh.

In Middle School, we had Home Ec, but I don’t think she was a great teacher. Well, she wasn’t doing it right. We were trying to make popcorn on the stove [without a lid]. Mom came in and helped so we could have a lid without it popping everywhere [by using a wet dish towel]. Sometimes you need help.

You gotta prepare for cooking, know what you’re cooking and when; make sure everything’s all measured out. When you’re in the kitchen making things you have to go to that recipe if you want it to turn out right. You have to find the ingredients and figure out what kinda stuff you put in it for the food to taste good. Measuring is important because you have to know if you’re putting half a cup or a full cup. You have to know how to put just the right amount to make it better, make sure it tastes good. That’s correct. Nobody likes to eat bad food.

Real cooking [when John didn’t just watch], I used Mexican and Italian Cookbooks. It’s been a while since I had my own books, but those were the first ones I had. Sometimes I made spaghetti and sometimes pizza… Mexcian-wise we made Mexican rice and Mexican pizza. You can make all kinds of things. And I guess it’s the first time I really think I remember cooking.

But, I didn’t really know how to cook. So, now it’s my first time back in the kitchen. I get to pick out recipes. We found some cookbooks like The Simpsons, Linda McCartney’s and are looking for some more. That time, we made Fried Rice [Vegetarian Fried Rice, from Linda McCartney’s Family Kitchen Cookbook] and Brownies [Big Pile of Brownies, from The Unofficial Simpsons Cookbook].

This time we’re making Mac N’ Cheese [Baked Macaroni and Cheese, from Linda McCartney’s] and Dessert Eclairs [La Bombe Eclairs, from The Simpsons]. It’s the first time I’ve done it, but I like the blasting [pulsing] in the processor [John says through smiles while using a food processor]. There are many gadgets to make this easier: from the one-handed egg cracking tool to the finger guard and measuring spoons [thank you, Amazon].

When you cook, sometimes you get tired. Especially when you stir, your arm gets real tired, but you can change hands back and forth from left to right. If your hand gets tired, that’s ok so you can just switch. It’s important to drink water and to keep drinking a lot to stay hydrated too.

What food do I like to eat?

Meat. Steak’s my favorite and also Pork Chops; I like ‘em [pork chops] fried. I also like Fish and Chicken Fingers or Fried Chicken.

And Sides? Oh, well, Macaroni and Cheese, of course. And, Rice. Sometimes, Corn, I like it both ways, corn on the cob and off the cob. [Do you like any vegetables?] Vegetables… well, there’re so many of those. I only like them with other things pretty much, like Broccoli, Peas and Black-eyed Peas. But, I’m not much on the Okra. I like Cabbage too.

Food to make?

Sometimes fish, and chicken, if it’s fresh. I’ve never made steak before, but I think I’d like to try to make that.

My perfect meal would be Steak with Steak Sauce, Rice with Gravy and Green Broccoli with Butter. Cause butter makes everything taste better.

A little advice?

If you’re cooking for the first time, make sure you use the right ingredients, don’t put the wrong ones in. Make it proper if you want it to taste good. I was scared at first, but now, no! You get better the more you do it. So go get in the kitchen!

~ John Joyner