Cooking 101...Tuition Free

So Shane and I have started cooking together. It started about 2 weeks ago when he got a french press for his birthday. Since I have known him he could master the George Foreman grill and the microwave but he had never learned to boil water...so we started there. But since we started we have boiled water, made turkish coffee and last night we made spaghetti!

Boiling water to use in his french press he has mastered - basically because we are using a tea kettle that whistles but there are several days when he makes his coffee when I'm not there.

Turkish coffee...that's hard! Here is a picture of the coffee pot...

Yes, that's what it really looks like! Basically you put your water in the pot (about 1/2 way full) and then you put it on the stove and let the water boil. Once the water boils, you take it off the stove and put 2 scoops of Turkish coffee in the pot. You stir it and then put it back on the stove but you have to "watch" it and when it foams up you take it off and stir it again. Put it back on the stove, let it foam up one more time and remove, then you pour it into these demitasse cups (the ones on the left). I don't drink coffee but Shane says it is STOUT! :-)

Last night was spaghetti...we starting from browning the sausage to putting the sauce on top of the noodles...he did GREAT! But it was definitely more time consuming!

I'm not sure what is next on our list to cook but I'll let you know...and hopefully take some pictures of Chef Shane! :-)

I have learned several things in trying to teach someone to cook...

1. Always be positive!

2. Multi-tasking when cooking is hard when you can't see!

3. I don't cook with "times"...I cook with how it looks and a gut feeling.

4. I don't measure spices...I just shake a few shakes and then I add more based on taste and how it looks.

Any suggestions on cooking would be GREAT! Oh and this is our new motto!

Sweet Caroline...

At 5:42 pm last Thursday, in Rocky Mount, NC a little girl was born into this world. At 24 inches long, she is an answered prayer to many that have prayed for her. She is gaining two parents that love her and know that she is a gift from the Lord. Her mother is one of my best friends. Her mom and I became instant friends when she took the time to call me when I was about to move to her town. I will never forget the day in Collierville, TN in 1997 when my mom told me I had a phone call and it was this girl named Erin from Mobile, AL. See my dad had just accepted a position at Dauphin Way Baptist Church and I had met Erin once…I think it was at a reception. Anyway, she called, told me she was praying for me as we moved and looked forward to me being at their church. I cannot tell you the Godsend that she was. I really feel like God gave her to me so that it would be a comfort and an easy move. I have cried with her, laughed with her, played Phase 10 with her (I don’t think I EVER beat her at that gameJ), and we spent many a Friday night together. Erin was the first friend I found after I got engaged, she was a bridesmaid in my wedding…she even stayed with me the night before my wedding, even when I got a little over emotional. I love her. She is such a great friend and will be such a great mother. She has trusted the Lord in ALL things and especially in having a baby. I’m so thankful that the Lord has seen fit to give Erin and David a BIG desire of their heart, proving that He keeps his promises. They have delighted themselves in the Lord, and He has given them the desires of their heart! Praise the Lord! So without further adieu…here is Caroline Emigh Stanford, weighing in at 7 lbs 4oz and measuring 24 inches long (WOW!)…Congratulations David and Erin!