Read the Reviews

I have been cooking regularly now for about 3 years. I have some simple recipes mastered, but week after week, they become monotonous and I often turn to the internet to "spice things up" if you will.

I remember a cookie recipe I used from allrecipes.com (excellent site) and after the cookies were done my roommates were more than willing to test out my new treats. With one bite they all looked at each other and made a face that I have come to know quite well. It was the face of "this-is-disgusting-but-who-is-going-to-tell-the-cook." People make this face while deciding exactly that, while they try to choke down whatever the offending food is. Well, the recipe I used was mis-typed and called for 3 TABLESPOONS of vanilla. Being an inexperienced cook, I didn't really notice.

Later, once I had thrown away all my hard work and ingredients, I discovered something on the website meant to help people like me. They are called "reviews," and are posted by people who have used the recipe. It is like trying it out without having to do all the work. There, in plain black and white, were more than 30 people yelling to anyone who would listen, that the recipe required 3 TEASPOONS of vanilla. Had I read the reviews before attempting the recipe, I would have saved myself a lot of heartache and wasted time.

I have remembered that lesson well and every time I try a new recipe, I make sure to read the reviews for hints and tips from other cooks.

Tonight was an exception however, the recipe received rave reviews and apparently everyone loved it....but us. I made chicken curry and rice. I followed the recipe to a T and it looked pretty good. Well, long story short, Matt just returned with take-out Chinese food.

New lesson: read the reviews, but everyone has very different tastes.

The Curse of Perfectionism

Matt thinks I am a perfectionist. Sometimes I agree with him. We have come to the joint conclusion that everyone is a perfectionist in one way or another, some of us just have more ways.

Me? I want to be the best and most prepared teacher, the best and most prepared parent, and the best and most prepared wife. I have spent countless hours researching the field of education, preparing boxes of materials for my future classroom, and writing lesson plans for my future students. I cut articles out of parenting magazines on throwing the best birthday parties, I have baby names picked out, and I know exactly what to expect when I am expecting.

I obsess over things and want them to be perfect. I attempt to control everything, even the uncontrollable. I want it to be perfect.

I am currently in a cooking/baking stage. I am making everything from scratch, muffins, soups, breads...everything. It is fantastic and I am pleased with it so far. Matt on the other hand, worries that I am over-doing it. That I am stressing myself out for no reason. Don't you know that you can buy pre-made, already sliced bread at the grocery store? My own bread that I kneaded with my own hands tastes better to me. Is that so wrong?

This phase is new so I am still allowing for mistakes in my perfectionism. I threw out an entire batch of apple oatmeal muffins because, although they smelled delicious, it was noticeable that the cover to the nutmeg fell off and spilled in my batter. I was upset that I wasted all those ingredients, but I am allowing for a learning curve, and I will do better next time. Making mistakes gives me something to strive for.

Tonight, for instance, I made pumpkin muffins (my second attempt) and I made cream cheese frosting to put in them. The frosting I made last time left much to be desired so I tried a new recipe. This one was fantastic! But...I had way too much frosting left over. Instead of getting upset that I had an excess of leftovers, I am going to make a carrot cake tomorrow to bring to my in-laws. I am making the proverbial lemonade from my lemons.

Perfectionism or not, I am constantly striving to be better.