Big, fat, failure

Sometimes, despite the best of intentions, things can go awry.  I experience this in the kitchen last week as I attempted to make a smashed split pea and barley soup (a copy cat recipe from a California Pizza Kitchen dish).  I learned a valuable lesson, that sometimes you DO know better than a recipe, and that I need to learn to listen to my cooking intuition. 

I followed the recipe to a T, and I knew while cooking that there were a few things that just weren't right.  For one, the recipe called for way, way too much liquid.  Secondly, it told me to squeeze lemon in the pot in the beginning of the cooking process, rather than at the end for a fresh zap of acid.  The liquid turned what was supposed to be a thick puree into a green, over liquidy mess.  It was gross.  The lemon has soured and turned bitter after cooking for almost 2 hours, and it was also gross.  All in all, a kitchen failure that won't be repeated anytime soon.  YUCK!

I did find some kitchen success, however, I forgot to take pictures.  I cooked with a friend on Saturday night, and we made a roast chicken.  It was delicious, stuffed with lemon, sage, thyme, rosemary and garlic, both under the skin and in the cavity.  We cooked it with potatoes and carrots, and added a little bit of water to the pan halfway through the cooking process which created a thick jus.  It was amazing, and such a winter comfort meal on a cold-ish night. 

Tonight the plan is a simply shrimp dish that I haven't made for a long time.... but, part of me just wants to either try the gnocchi again or simply cook up the tortellini that I have in the fridge.  I'm feeling a bit lazy again (Husband awoke at 4am which means I also awoke at 4am).  I may save the shrimp for tomorrow night when I'm feeling a bit more ambitious.  I also have to do some baking for my work Christmas party on Wednesday morning.  We are having a brunch, and tonight I need to start preparing my Banana Foster Bread (to-die-for), and then Wednesday morning I'm making a baked cheese grits casserole.  Hopefully it all comes together without too much trouble.  I can't believe the holidays are so close!