Dinner Helpers

When it comes to cooking, I have accepted the fact that I am destined to be a noob forever. Noob not in the same category as this ironchef-in-disguise-noob, but noob in the true sense, know very little and have no will to learn. I no longer live in denial, buying cookbooks after cookbooks dreaming of being my Mister’s Domestic Goddess. After trying at the most two recipes from the salad/entree section, I would be demoralised. Mine would never ever look and taste anywhere near that described by the book, even though I put in twice the amount of time in the kitchen. Nothing wrong with those cookbooks, it’s just me … poor execution due to “no-interest” of the subject matter. If I could transfer some of my enthusiasm from baking and crafting to cooking, I am positive my family’s tummies would be much happier.

Things changed (a while back) for the better when I stumbled upon these amazing food bloggers They “hand-held” me all the way from buying the ingredients to plating (is there such a word?) the meal. Most of their recipes have very few ingredients, they do not involve any deep frying (my no.1 fear), they have very few simple cooking steps and most important of all their recipes are idiot-proof.

Please put your hands together for a round of applause to these amazing ladies. Here they are in no particular order;

Don’t think Ree aka PW needs any introduction, right? I have been a “stalker” of hers way before she bacame “royalty” of the food blogging world. Initially I followed her blog mainly for Black Heels to Tractor Wheels – her love story with Marlboro Man. Slowly I became attracted to her cooking posts (sub-consciously?) too. Me, cooking? Nah! Maybe its because she provides pictures and detailed explanation for each and every cooking step . Or could it be due to her wicked sense of humour? Possibly its her down-to-earth, hilarious constant self mockery …. Oh, I don’t know. I became her faithful fan, even more faithful than having dinner daily!

I had tried many of her recipes and had lots of success with them. I can never forget cooking my first pan-fried steak ala PW, can never forget having her Asian Noodle Salad for lunch and dinner two days straight, can never forget keeping the Mister happy with a never done before homecooked meat feast.

Seriously I am so grateful to PW for making cooking less scary for me, with her awesome tutorials and how-tos series. Soon, I hope cooking will no longer be a responsibility for me. Maybe, just maybe, I might, will actually enjoy (eeeks) doing it.

She is the Ironchef in disguise that I mentioned earlier. This is Wiffy’s claim of herself, “I’m a girl who likes to cook though I don’t think I’m very good at it”. Not good at cooking? Bluff! Hop over to her blog and you will be amazed with her simple yet delicious recipes. Go on do it now.

Was it her Chicken and Mushroom Baked Rice, or Baked Sardines and Potatoes? I can’t remember. Its one of these guys (both equally yummy) that started my “relationship” with Wiffy. Since then I have been relying on her to figure out dinner. She has a 15- minutes Shorts Series (cooking under 15 minutes) which I particularly like. It is a life saver during my 4pm weekday scramble, wondering what to put on the dinner table.

The Little Teochew is another of my favourite. Ju writes beautifully. She is very generous in teaching and sharing. She comes across as a very down-to-earth person, I like her! Coupled  with her fantastic shots, she  keeps me captivated. Daily visits to her a blog is a must for me.

Even though alot of her recipes a little difficult for me, I enjoy reading and learning from them. One day I hope to tackle them. For now, I have tried a number of the easier ones with lots of success. We especially love her Carrot and Tuna Salad, Salmon Cakes, Pineapple Fried Rice and Sesame Prawn Toast.

Babe is the first Malaysian blogger on my google reader and she is still there after a couple of “spring cleaning”. Not sure why, but her comments on my blog seemed to encourage and comfort me in an uncanny way. I can never forget her encouragements during the height of my health problems.  I have long considered her a good friend even though we have never met.

If you have not visited blog, which is unlikely, you should.  She does food review on all types of food in Malaysia from street food to super fine dining. I like it that her reviews are not the typical regurgitating the menu and providing the address and opening hours type. I find them to be insightful and objective. Maybe I am biased because she likes La Bodega and Nerovivo too.

The lady is an awesome cook too. Her recipes are simple, very forgiving (hehe) and super tasty – I know, I have tried a number of them. Our current favourites are – Steamed Chicken with Chinese Sausages (hubby’s), Homemade Yogurt (Mine) and Butter, Kaya and Peanut Butter Toast (my girls would love to have this everyday).