I've decided to dedicate part of this blog to my personal 20Time project. As of last Wednesday, I'm now a Glendale resident! I have this awesome apartment I have to myself to truly start my own life and be an independent woman. Even so, my attempts at getting back into cross-country shape and eat healthy haven't been grand, but at least I'm taking baby steps.
Since I moved, I have cooked simple entrees, but I think it's an improvement already that I've only eaten out twice (first time at the Oinkster, a pastrami sandwich joint, and Jun Shabu Shabu, obviously a shabu shabu place but the best I've been to in a long time)! I started out with simple quesadillas stuffed with carnitas and/or carne asada. As I became more used to cooking this dish, I added more healthy ingredients, like mushrooms, spinach, arugala, and kale. I also used to make fried rice with easy cook meats like Spam and Chinese sausage, so I made fried rice a few times.
This morning, I tried my hand at making pancakes. I found some gluten-free pancake mix at Target on sale, so I thought I'd give it a try. I'm somewhat a perfectionist, so clearly, I'm often delusional to think that the first time I do something, the results would be amazing. However, especially with cooking, that wasn't the case. I didn't read the directions carefully, so the batter came out very watery. I also ended up breaking my first cake (as seen below...haha).
Since I moved, I have cooked simple entrees, but I think it's an improvement already that I've only eaten out twice (first time at the Oinkster, a pastrami sandwich joint, and Jun Shabu Shabu, obviously a shabu shabu place but the best I've been to in a long time)! I started out with simple quesadillas stuffed with carnitas and/or carne asada. As I became more used to cooking this dish, I added more healthy ingredients, like mushrooms, spinach, arugala, and kale. I also used to make fried rice with easy cook meats like Spam and Chinese sausage, so I made fried rice a few times.
This morning, I tried my hand at making pancakes. I found some gluten-free pancake mix at Target on sale, so I thought I'd give it a try. I'm somewhat a perfectionist, so clearly, I'm often delusional to think that the first time I do something, the results would be amazing. However, especially with cooking, that wasn't the case. I didn't read the directions carefully, so the batter came out very watery. I also ended up breaking my first cake (as seen below...haha).
A standard amount of mix produces 5-6 cakes, so I tried and tried again to hopefully get the hang of at least keeping the color of the cake and eventually making the pancake more circular. Unfortunately, I ended up burning a couple, but at least they don't taste too bad--not too chewy or thin (although they were more thin than I anticipated). I added some fruit and syrup for color and taste, but I made so many that I didn't finish them. Plus, the burnt taste overpowered any other taste anyway.
What I've always hated the most about cooking is the fact it takes so long (on top of the cleaning of all utensils afterwards), but I think I'm getting used to the length of time it takes to cook and clean. I'm totally loving not spending money on eating out as much, though. I can't help but feel really good after making something, too. Of course, my food isn't that great, but it's something I made! I feel proud of myself for turning one part of my life around. So much so that even after the pancake fail, I made fried rice right after like nothing.
I hope to explore and make more refined dishes as the summer ends and school year begins!