OMG....I Cooked Something That Doesn't Suck!!

So, I'm not a cook. Nowhere near a good cook. I have a few basic recipes I can make, and that's it. If they come out unburned and normal, than you know they are edible. I host Thanksgiving dinner for my family too. It's a good thing I usually have help, otherwise all we'd be eating is deviled eggs and steamed microwavable carrots. Seriously, last Thanksgiving I cooked the Turkey with the giblets bag still inside. I removed the neck, but the giblets bag was left behind. My SIL's husband laughed for a good 15 minutes when he found it carving the turkey. This year, I don't really know what I'm going to do since I'll be extremely sleep deprived with a 2nd grader, a toddler and a newborn, and if this baby is going to be anything like his/her brother and sister, I might barely have time to make anything with my random nursing schedule. Please don't be a colicky baby!!

Anyways, over the past month or so, I watched a little show called 'The Next Food Network Star' on Food Network. Yeah, someone who can't cook likes to watch Food Network. Maybe I'm hoping to absorb the ability to cook through reverse osmosis. Anyways, the person I wanted to win, Melissa d'Arabian, won. She was a SAHM, had great tips for cooking and always threw in a money saving tip while running around the kitchen. She did a promo show for her last bit on the show, and made this 4 step chicken that I kinds swooped up and made a few times and that my family actually eats because, HEY, it's edible. Well, she did a recipe this last week for Lemony Shrimp Scampi Pasta. It was a HUGE hit. Though, it called for 1 tsp of Crushed Red Pepper, and I think I may reduce that by half because the shrimp marinade in it with some lemon and some olive oil, and it was a bit on the spicy side for the kids. Claire didn't much care, she plowed right through it, but Ethan wasn't too keen on it. But, otherwise, the recipe was fantastic, and all enjoyed it, including David. Seriously, he is the pickiest eater I have ever met. I thought our children would be picky eaters, but he has them beat. Anyways, I'm so thrilled that everyone liked it, that I plan to try more of her recipes. If you'd like to try one, the web address for her show is http://www.foodnetwork.com/ten-dollar-dinners-with-melissa-darabian/index.html All of her recipes are on there. I did try the Bacon Potato Torte recipe as well a few weeks ago, and it was great! Ethan was the only one who had a big problem with it. He's not really a fan of potatos that aren't boxed, but I think that might be a result of his SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder).

Next week I'm trying the Salmon Cake recipe she has listed on her site. I watched the show when she made them and they looked easy to make and very yummy. Now all I have to do is make them and NOT burn them. Wish me luck!