Cooking

Cooking Freak

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It’s no secret I love cooking. I’m charting my own voyages into making Japanese Curry here. I cook for friends and co-workers. I enjoy it.

Now not everyone has to like cooking, though I suggest you give it a shot to see if you can at least make it an enjoyable task. But I’m starting to feel like someone who likes cooking and enjoys cooking is extremely rare. It’s a little odd, truth be told, and a little unsettling.

For instance, right now I’m trying to date. My cooking seems to inevitably come up when people contact me, making me think it must be a rare trait especially in men. In Silicon Valley. In their 40’s.

OK, it probably is, but still.

It’s also remarkable among people I meet. I know people are busy, but between health concerns, the price of food, the fun of cooking and the fact you can make some kickass meals in a short time, I wonder why more people don’t cook. Hell, I lost 23 pounds almost entirely due to diet changes, you’d think people would want a piece of that. Also my curried split pea soup entirely rules.*

It’s to the point where I feel a little WEIRD cooking like I do. And this is when there’s all sorts of food-related reality show like ‘Hell Cupcakes” or “Diner Mud Wrestling” or whatever. I don’t know, most reality TV without Tim Gunn gives me hives.**

I guess what bugs me is that it shouldn’t seem odd. Cooking is one of those skills that’s good for us, that’s part of our history, that’s part of good health, and that’s fun when taught right (or at least fun when you’re done). I’d like to see it more appreciated and applied. Maybe there’s some kind of “Cooking is Cool” thing we could do for kids, or get Hipsters on board “I cook because it’s not mainstream.”***

Also cooking is how we understand our bodies, our environment, and how we live. To cook and understand is to understand what keeps us going in the first place. To not understand that is risky.

Ironically, I don’t think everyone needs to cook all the time. I think that it would probably be more resource efficient to create more restaurant, store, and delivery services doing same-day-prepared healthy meals. But cooking at least gives you some knowledge of what to look for.

It just feels weird to like it, do it, and have it be regarded as noteworthy.

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, nerd and geek culture at http://www.nerdcaliber.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.

* Really, it does.
** Tim Gunn just makes me think “Damn I wish I looked that good.”
*** OK maybe not.

Curry Diary 6/23/2013: Milestone Curry #2

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Well this is unexpected.

Right after posting my Milestone Curry, I did a slight change of cooking – and it advanced how the Japanese Curry I’ve been working on for ages tastes.  In fact, it’s a significant change that I want to note here because it’s very educational.

In the last iteration of the Curry, I added Maple Syrup to the broth.  In this case I add it right to the roux and roast it along with the other ingredients   This roasting/carmelization adds a richer taste, makes a thicker sauce, and actually seems to amplify the tastes.

As I look at various curries, a surprising amount of odd things go right into the roux.  I think next I may need to try the cocoa powder earlier.

Anyway, on to the recipe – and there are some changes in how it’s put together.

Read more

Chocolate-Maple-Peanut Butter Energy Bars

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A great snack for energy that’s a mainstay of my active days.  Just be careful – one bar has 223 calories and 13% of your daily requirements of fat!

Ingredients

  • 4 cups quick-cook oats
  • 1 cup maple syrup
  • 1  cups peanut butter.
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1 Tbsp cocoa powder
  1. Place oats in a large bowl.
  2. Put the maple syrup in a saucepan and add peanut butter.  Turn heat to low.
  3. Stirring regularly, melt the peanut butter into the maple syrup.  You may need to change the heat depending on your stove.
  4. When the peanut butter is melted, stir in cocoa powder and vanilla.
  5. Once mixed, immediately pour the maple-peanut butter mixture over the oats and mix thoroughly to coat.
  6. Place oats in a baking dish.  Place saran wrap over it and press down to spread it thoroughly so it fills pan evenly and is pressed down.
  7. Place in refrigerator for 2 hours.
  8. Cut into 16 bars.  Wrap and freeze them.

These need to be kept cool or they kind of fall apart.  Be sure to wrap them when transporting them around.

Taste wise these are delicious.  They’re also filling.  My way of using them is to pack one for a snack when I need a boost.  They’d also be great for really active days of exercise or hiking if properly wrapped.

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, nerd and geek culture at http://www.nerdcaliber.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.