A Pinch Of Salt

     When your cooking do you measure everything exactly?  Come on tell the truth!  I'm not one of those who believes in a pinch of salt or half an onion.  I don't even know what a pinch of salt really is much less what's called half a medium onion.  Lets face it, salt goes on everything and a whole onion makes the recipe much better.
     When it comes to vegetables  there are lots of way to cook them but my favorite  is to open the can and heat them up.  To much of this and too much of that is not in my vocabulary when it comes to cooking.  Guess it's good to have guidelines when your just starting to cook for yourself. Especially after you've been eating at your mother's table for at least 18 years.  But I'm 65 so I don't have any guidelines, just throw it in the bowl and eat it.
    As a bachelor I feel no pressure when cooking.   I don't have to impress anyone, if I don't like it then it goes in the trash.  There is nothing wrong with chasing  that picture perfect meal .but perfection in the kitchen is a waist of time in my opinion.  I once had a live in girlfriend that could not even cook rice.  The first week of cohabitation she put liquid dish soap in the automatic dishwasher.  I came home to a apartment  a foot deep in soap suds.  She was very apologetic for turning my apartment into the North Pole.  Have you ever had sex on a bed of soap bubbles?  I was as jolly as St Nick that night.
     Back to the kitchen, my mind got sidetracked on the bubble episode.   People write recipes for a reason, they expect you to follow them.  I never read a recipe that could not be changed a little.  The fear of failure in the kitchen has never bothered me so like I said " if I don't like it goes in the trash". and it's forgotten.  Maybe it's my good sense of flavor that's been my friend over the years but truth be known it's probably my mother's cooking I grew up with.  I'll eat just about anything and eat it five days in a row.  Any woman who thinks she can capture my heart via my stomach is vastly mistaken.  Besides, the key to marital bliss is" hire a maid and buy more takeout" and maybe a real good electric can opener and pizza delivery on speed dial would not hurt either.
     Your kitchen should be a place where your not afraid to screw up except for when you girlfriend or wife loads up the automatic dishwasher with liquid dish soap.  If you want a perfect kitchen apply for the Gordon Ramsay's television  show.  Just remember, it's only food.  It's not going to be with you very long anyway.

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