Have you ever made a recipe before and found yourself surprised on how good it was or that you actually made it? For me, it was Marshmallows. It was as if I made fire for the first time or something. I was amazed that you can make marshmallows, and thrilled that they were way better than anything from a bag! I was truly impressed with myself! Sort of like when Julie made Julia's Beouf Bourguignon in the movie "Julie & Julia" (2009 by Nora Ephron).
I'm not one of those cooks who can just throw things together from the fridge or pantry and end up with something special. I can however follow a recipe, and consider myself to be a good cook, adventurous even. I have taken on just about everything in the kitchen. We made a Beef Wellington one year at Christmas and we were in awe of how pretty it was and how delicious it tasted! Two things I have never made: Homemade Pasta or a Soufflé. Sure, I have made noodles and dumplings but not pasta that has to be rolled, shaped or filled. My excuse is that I don't have a pasta maker, but I think it is simply because I am chicken! Then there is the soufflé…that one makes me shudder. It seems like any cartoon, movie, or show where someone is cooking to impress, makes a soufflé and inevitably it falls in the oven. Can it be that hard? I mean, I made popovers with success. What is the big deal? I have never even attempted to make one. It really intimidates me. What scares you in the kitchen? What do you consider to be your best culinary success?