After yesterday’s fantastic display of laziness, I decided today would be much more productive (and thus slightly more interesting to post about). A bagel with lox sounded like a fantastic plan for lunch, so I walked (WALKED!) over to the shopping center near our apartment. I always feel guilty driving there since it’s so close, and since I hadn’t planned on buying anything to schlep home, walking seemed like a good plan. I should have known better. Linens ‘n Things is in the shopping center, right next to my favorite bagel place. I was bored, so I wandered in. Big mistake.
Linens n’ Things is my second favorite Things I Don’t Need To Buy But Do Anyhow establishment (Bed Bath & Beyond reigns first on my list), and it certainly did not fail me on this trip. I decided these sconces would look great on either side of the Wyland painting that’s not yet hung on my wall (my frame is black, unlike the one in the photo). I found a wastebasket for the computer room, instead of the plastic bag we were using as a substitute (classy, we are not). I bought a new shower rod since ours is too short, and just rests on the top of the shower, thus dragging the curtain on the ground (Jas doesn’t mind. I’ve hated it forever, but never remembered to do something about it. Until today!). Then these cookie sheets jumped into my cart. I don’t know why. I don’t like to cook. I don’t like to bake. But they seemed like something I needed to buy RIGHT THEN, despite my lack of automobile to bring them home. It’s only a half mile or so. The longest half mile ever, in case you wondered. But I made it. Put all my fine purchases away, and then decided I needed to cook something on my new cookie sheets. So back out I went (this time with my car) to the store. Cookies were purchased, along with various other edible odds and ends. It’s a little sad how excited I was about making cookies. I rushed home, threw them in the oven (props to Nestle Tollhouse and their Idiot-Proof cookie kits) and waited. 12 minutes later, all done! I felt like I’d conquered the world! My house smelled yummy, and there were fresh cookies on my stove. I was inspired!
I broke out my cookbooks and started making lists of dinners and desserts that I plan on conquering in the next month. My shopping list started off as 3 pages long. I’ve since culled it down to a little over a page. Maybe this will be my new hobby. I vow, with you Internet peoples as my witness, to try at least once new recipe a week, regardless if Jas is home or not. I shall no longer use having dinner by myself as an excuse. That’s what Gladware is for. If anyone has any good recipes, or recipe sites they’d like to share, I’d appreciate it. Specifically those recipes spelled out for the domestically challenged. I’m not a great cook. I don’t really like it that much. But I’m still glowing from my fabulous cookie experience, and hoping to hold on to this feeling for a while!
http://www.allrecipes.com. I use them for everything. I like this site because people rate the recipes and offer suggestions for improvements or subsitutions. I always read the reviews so I can find out what makes it so good. I love the Flatlander Chili on there. Most of the recipes I use are off that site. I also had really good luck with the Shrimp and Feta Cheese Pasta and tomato basil soup recipes recently.
We have interesting food challenges in our apartment because one of us (I’m not going to mention any names, but it’s the male person) has dietary restrictions that make eating like a normal person completely impossible.
So, we (I) use celiac.com a lot in coming up with new gluten-free recipes. Also, I happened to borrow (steal) that Rachel Ray cookbook, 365 meals in 30 minutes or less, and was able to convert a few of those recipes into gluten-free yumminess.
If, however, you don’t require such restrictions (and it doesn’t sound like you do from the fact that you can make Tollhouse cookies, you lucky devil), I recommend the Good Housekeeping web site. They have lots and lots of recipes. You can search by ingredient, which is helpful when you realize you’ve acidentally purchased three liters too much of apple cider and need quick, inventive recipes to fix that particular problem.