Erica Narcross, Top Chef Wanna Be

Seriously?  I totally haven't blogged in over a month.  I don't feel too bad considering I only have four followers - and, gotta love ya, you probably don't care all that much! :)

But... I have really been realizing lately that I need to watch less tv, and do more stuff.  That was great when Todd was around... we were making dinner together, playing games, and enjoying each other's company... but alas, baseball season has started, and I am alone.

So... I started thinking of hobbies I could take up.  I decided I would still love to make dinners that aren't cooked primarily with frozen foods and/or in the microwave.  So, I will try to keep that up.

I realized I could return to scrapbooking/crafting, so I am going to try. 

Then I realized I will do nothing if I don't have any accountability.  And the next thing you know I will be right back to sitting on the couch watching endless hours of TV... so that's where you come in, faithful followers. 

I will try to post what I am doing... if for nothing else, so that I can look back and realize I actually DID something! :) 

Here are a few of the recent things I tried (with Todd, BBS)...

1.  We made risotto!  I was so proud of us... you know, 'cause they make it all the time on Top Chef... Turns out it's not too hard, just VERY time consuming!  Endless stirring... but in the end it was very yummy, creamy, and spread out on the plate (all of which are requirements according to Tom and Padma).

2.  For our late Valentine's Day Dinner (on President's day due to the unexpected trip to Michigan) we made steak with red wine/mushroom sauce, couscous with leeks, roasted asparagus, and heart shaped (before they baked, blob shaped after baking) shortcakes with strawberries.  This night of cooking required two ingredients I had heard of (on Top Chef) but didn't really know much about and had to ask for help finding in the store: shallots and leeks.  Turns out both are delicious!  :)

So here I go... Top Chefin' it up... (should Chefin' be spelled Cheffin' since it ends in a vowel consonant??)  And you're all along for the ride...

Enjoy!