My new recipe

A few weeks ago I made these great new muffins. Normally corn muffins are really dry, crumbly and they always make a mess. But this one night I noticed that I had made moist muffins and the kids didn’t make that much of a mess either. I also noticed that the batch hadn’t made as many as it normally does, but the kids didn’t eat them up like they normally do either, so it evened out. As I was cleaning up the kitchen I realized that I had attempted to double the recipe but I had only doubled the eggs and milk, the rest was normal. I would love to elude you into thinking that I had made these from scratch, but alas they were just the boxed variety, and my clue was the other unopened box sitting on the counter.

Unfortunately this is a common occurrence at our house. After years of marriage Scott has learned that if he wants a good Sunday dinner or if we have company he is going to have to do things himself. I am not ashamed to admit that he is a better cook than me. Especially after years of trying I just know it is a gift that I just don’t have. In addition to being forgetful or distracted I swear there is just a “kitchen common sense” area in my brain that never developed.

For all my guests a month ago at book club I truly apologized. I sabotaged the best rice crispy recipe, twice. I made the yummy treats a few hours before, but when I went to cut them moments before the everyone was about to arrive, they were as hard as rock. I had enough ingredients, so then as people were coming I was in the kitchen trying to make them again. Immediately I could tell they were going to harden too. Instead of waiting until the end of book club, I served them gooey and hot. The leftovers were bricks an hour later. I followed the recipe exactly; I guess this is one that I will have to leave to Scott.

Maybe I am giving too much information, but here is a lovely sample from last week. Do you really want to know the history of this beef? First I defrosted this roast and another roast at the same time and thought I could put them both in the crock pot. Cook once with lots of leftovers. Of course it didn’t fit, so I put the extra roast in the fridge for anther day, a few days went by and every morning I forgot to start the second roast. Finally at 2 pm a one day, I decided I couldn’t leave it in the fridge another day and put it in knowing it wouldn’t be done by dinner time. Scott joked that I would have to get up at 2 am to get it, but I just planned to put it away before I went to bed. I am sure you can guess where this is going. I found it still in the crock pot the next morning, a little dry but very well done. Next I shredded it up for barbequed beef, added the sauce and thought I had redeemed this poor roast. As a quick dinner later in the week, I pulled it out and thought I just had to warm it up. With my impatience with cooking I sometimes turn the burner up high to get it going and then turn it down. One of the kids had a question in the other room and I went to help and forgot about our yummy dinner. Scott wasn’t home that night to be a good advocate for the kids, anything not stuck to the bottom I deemed as good and still fed to my family. I have scrubbed and soaked that pan but there still seems to be a few charred remains that may never come off.

Mind you I don’t ruin everything, but it is those random times that blow my confidence. Today I made sugar cookies, and after a little coaching from Scott’s mom I think I cooked them just right. They are just barely brown on the bottom, and as soft as can be. I have yet to finish the frosting, so we won’t call it a success yet. Samantha’s birthday cake turned out alright but she did notice that the frosting looked a little melted; I will try to add more sugar for the cookies. Wish me luck!