mizchef

posted by admin on Sep 11

Hi, gang.  Still working on getting that KHEN interview  audio track up here. DJ Andi downloaded it to a CD for me, but when you take something off a CD, it’s a “cda” file, which nothing but a CD or DVD player can read. (I’m so not up on this audio technology stuff.) I can upload the file to the WordPress server, but it won’t recognize the file and I can’t seem to convert the file to something else. If anyone out there knows how I can get around this, I’d appreciate a suggestion from you.

I have to say that although not having a job really bites in terms of finances, it’s afforded me the opportunity to do things I never would have been able to do if I’d been working. For instance, I never would have been able to go on a two-week road trip or spend three weeks in Colorado (very inexpensive trip). This has been a cathartic year for me, in both good and bad ways, and the ability to travel (cheaply—I emphasis the word cheaply) has been a blessing.

But the other thing I’ve been able to do is plow through the 200-some-odd recipes that I’ve been testing for my second cookbook. I’ve been working on this book since 2002. That’s seven years! I want to be done with it. But testing recipes is difficult when you have a full-time job. It’s not like “regular” cooking, where you can just reach into the fridge or pantry and throw some things together. When you’re recipe testing, you can’t go to the market and just pick out whatever strikes your fancy. You can do that to a certain degree (because sometimes the best recipes come from a whim), but, generally, you have to go with a list of ingredients for your intended recipes. Then you have to prepare the recipes methodically, in a certain order, keeping track of everything you do. It’s like a science project, really.

Anyway, at the beginning of this year, I still had a long, long way to go to finish the testing and finalize my recipe list. In the last nine or so months, I’ve made a concentrated effort to test at least one recipe per day, more if possible. It doesn’t always work out that way. Some days, I just have too many other things to do to shop and cook. How can you be busy? you ask. You have no job. I’ve been busy with writing and editing projects, sick cats, housecleaning (and by that, I mean going through years’ worth of stuff and trying to thin out the useless crap), and family responsibilities. So, yes, even without a job, one can be very busy.

I have had more global cuisine this past year than probably any other time in my life. I’ve had Indian, Chinese, Turkish, Thai, Indonesian, Malaysian, Armenian, Korean, Macedonian, Greek, Hungarian, Russian, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Irish, French, Japanese, Nigerian, Kenyan, Brazilian, Chilean, Mexican, Honduran, Peruvian, Puerto Rican, Polynesian, Moroccan, and more. (I’m trying to figure out how to say “from the Ivory Coast.” Ivory Coastan??)

I’ve made quite a dent, and while I’m still not close to being done, I’m way closer than I would have been if I had a job. So, as tough as things have been financially, I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve gotten and am taking full advantage of them while I can. And that actually has taught me a valuable lesson. Some opportunities only knock once, so always answer the door.

It’s pretty rainy and windy here in NY today. Hope it’s better wherever you are. Have a great week, all. Ciao.

Photo credit: Mrs. Yandle Cooking on Coal Stove by Alfred Eisenstaedt