What is the most challenging culinary item you've ever prepared?
Well, I've just started cooking in the past year or so, and there were many challenges in that time that come to mind. The first time I tried cooking a meal from scratch was a challenge. Especially since I'd never prepared a protein from raw before. The chicken came out more like sushi that time :/ but it didn't really happen again after that.
The first time I attempted to cook a steak, I wanted to get it a perfect mid-rare with a good sear. In my head, it was a test of whether culinary was going to be a good field to get into for me. I watched a lot of videos, specifically Gordon Ramsay's video on how to prepare a NY strip. I used the same cut as well, got a cast-iron skillet and it came out just as I wanted. It was an amazing feeling.
I had always baked here and there, even when I was younger, so around Christmas or New Year's, I decided to try something a little more challenging. I did dark chocolate salted caramel cookies and it was pretty hard to get all the steps just right, but they were hella good lol.
I've sous-vided things at home as well, but that's really not that challenging, just sounds fancy.
But honestly, out of all that stuff, developing good knife skills is probably the most challenging overall. I've been at it 4 months and there's a lot of progress, but I've still a long way to go lol.
I know your from Chicago How long have you lived in Arizona and what prompted the move?
I've lived here like a year and a half, I think. Honestly, chicago is kind of a hell hole, especially if you're a working class 20-something with no direction, barely getting by. And between the corruption, the violence, the unemployment, the cost of living, the pension issues, it's a year away from being a 2nd Detroit, I feel like. It makes me sad, because I love so much about that place that has nothing to do with the problems it faces. The lake is beautiful this time of year. The festivals, the neighborhoods. The people. The food. My god, the food.... And the writer in me really identifies with The City of Big Shoulders, but I really didn't see my life improving much if I stayed there. Things are easier for me in Arizona and I find my life progressing here, little by little, which keeps me positive. I also have some family in the area, which made it less scary to move 2000 miles away from home. And all those reasons made me feel like I could justify the main reason, in that, I was moving to be closer to someone I love very much.
🙂
What sorts of books do you like to read?
All kinds. As long as there's something I can relate to in the book. Last thing I read was Family Secrets: The Trial That Crippled The Chicago Mob by Jeff Coen. Honestly, I don't read much these days though, aside from various articles here and there on the web.