I'm Not Doing This Because I'm Good

As I walked into my smoky kitchen to remove my lasagna from the oven, it occurred to me that I'm not sure if I've adequately described the reason I decided to write this blog.  As the title suggests, it's not because I'm good at it.  I can follow directions just fine, and my palette is definitely evolving.  The problem I have is a complete lack of basic skills training in the kitchen.  I'm not sure if I am alone in this but the transition from cooking with crap to cooking good food is not going to be a seamless one.   

Sure I've had a good four weeks - this is actually the first thing I've mucked up.  And it wasn't even really a horrible muck up - just a rookie mistake.  The recipe directions were for 45 minutes at 375 degrees in a glass dish.  As soon as I got into the kitchen, I knew; I had switched it for a tin and therefore should have reduced either the cooking time or temperature... maybe both - I have not consulted with anyone on this. Bonus - it still tasted quite good, I just lost the bottom layer of noodles. So, not a massive disaster and I did use a recipe that I've tweaked on my own so I am posting it next.

The purpose of detailing this is more for the proof of what I'm cooking for dinner with my inexpensive groceries.  Yesterday's trip ran me $188 (and about $27 went to non-menu items).  That's supposed to get us through two weeks of dinners.  If I can get through 13 dinners at an average cost of 12 dollars each, I'm totally onto something here - that's $2 per person. 

Also worth noting is that I spent a little more at the beginning while I was stocking my pantry.  Red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, red wine, white wine etc.  It lasts though; if you only use it for cooking :)  I've made three dishes that required white wine (I had a glass the first night as well) and I still have enough for one more (could've been two) - again, that's only a couple of dollars added to the cost of that night's dish.

I've also found that I really need to schedule leftovers.  Sometimes there's very little left but some days, there's enough to feed at least one or two of us.  I was supposed to do lasagna yesterday actually but once I got home and unpacked I realized I had no space for leftover lasagna.  We needed to finish up what was in there so that's what we did.  I was also supposed to cook a roast last week but we had something else instead so I have that for this coming two weeks. Technically I'm now a day ahead on food and a day behind on my menu.  That just stretched out my food again.  No complaints here.