Kitchen and Food

Here are the questions:

When you are in the kitchen cooking (or cleaning), do you have anything playing in the background (i.e.,TV, music, Julia Childs, etc.) while you are completing your tasks? If you are not someone who cooks or does chores in your kitchen, think of another chore or task. While you are doing that task, do you have anything going on in the background?

It depends. At my old house the kitchen was separate from the living room and I didn’t have TV in there. Here the kitchen I use, well it’s more of a kitchenette really, adjoins the lounge. Often, I’m talking to Naomi while I am preparing food. If I am alone, I might have the TV on, usually YouTube, or play an audio book on my laptop but only if I am doing a task that will take a while. I’m more likely to sit down and watch something while waiting for a cake to bake for example.

What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten that someone cooked for you?

David and I had Haggis in Scotland. That was from a cafe, not something someone cooked especially for us, but I guess it is weird, well some people might think so.

Thinking of that weird food, did you like it enough to eat it again or get the recipe?

I liked it. I’ve never eaten it since but probably would if I got the chance. I wouldn’t try to cook it myself though.

What’s the food you usually refuse to share?

I don’t think there is anything I wouldn’t share. I was taught not to be selfish with treats.

Do you use recipes when you cook, or do you have your own way of cooking the food that you love? If you are not the person who cooks in your household, pick a task that has directions/instructions. Do you follow the directions or put them to the side?

I prefer to use a recipe for most things I cook. Even though there are some things I make often like fruit cake or banana bread I still get the recipe out. It helps me to remember the amounts of each ingredient and I am less likely to leave something out. I do vary a bit of course. I may put in less sugar or more fruit but I don’t change the method usually. Except for pastry, I never chill it when the recipe says to do so. Once I find a recipe that I like I stick with it.

Bonus: Pick three smells in your kitchen that make you happy when you smell them.

• freshly baked bread,
• roasting meat,
• fruit cake in the oven.