Cooking with Carolyn 101

I was actually nervous. Carolyn was actually nervous too. How funny. Something we both love and want to do more of, we both were nervous to do around each other. Me, because I thought Carolyn would judge how bad I was. Carolyn, because she doubted she could teach me anything new. We were both wrong. And it proves that Carolyn’s first rule (I was wrong about the rules and order of the rules) is true. “Cooking must be fun!!!” 

The rule includes three exclamation points. It does. Really.

And it was fun. And we were both wrong. Carolyn taught me many things and I, well, I wasn’t as amateur as I thought.  Maybe I’m not very experienced, but I understand. That’s the whole thing with cooking; I just need repetition and confidence. And Carolyn was there to give that, with awesome tips along the way.

How did I know that I (somewhat) understood? Because the words that surrounded our cooking lesson without explanation were: 

Reconstitute(d).

Gelatinize.

Coagulate.

Hydrate (okay, that’s kind of self explanatory).

Mince, Chop, Dice, toast…etcetera.

We made mushroom risotto. Oh so good.

It started by toasting Arborio rice. Adding olive oil, salt, pepper, diced onion and minced garlic. Gelatinizing slowly with half cup servings of chick broth & reconstituted fluid from the sun dried tomatoes, porcini & chanterelle mushrooms. Adding those hydrated beauties. Coagulating with Parmesan cheese. Polishing off with truffle oil. And topping with parsley flakes.

It was earthy and rich and tasty.

What were some of the most important things I learned from the lesson?

That functional kitchens and multi-purposeful culinary tools are important. I was mentally making a list of items to put on my wish list. My apartment has no furniture and here I am putting “kitchen tongs” ahead of “couch.”

 

But according to Carolyn: Kitchen tongs (without plastic, possible melting tips), Kitchen scissors (only to be used for food), and wooden spoons (at least two) are invaluable. And rules like “cooking must be fun,” “cooking for friends is always better then cooking for yourself,” “you should have your beverage of choice within arm's reach,” and “follow the recipe at least once, until you make your own” are equally important. 

And I agree. 

And we had so much fun. Cooking for each other. With beers in arms reach. While following a Carolyn memorized/altered recipe. 

And I am so glad I took the nervousness over the never trying. So the rule I am adding to the list is stolen from a Bright Eyes song: “…And your eyes must do some raining if you are ever going to grow…” 

Unless of course you take into consideration another one of Carolyn’s rules-which is, throw the onion in the freezer ten minutes before chopping so the juices freeze enough to prevent the raining.