"Great" Italian Food, Does it Exist?

The other day, Lisa and I went out to eat at yet another ‘great’ Italian restaurant.  And yet again, we walked away completely unsatisfied and revolted at what we paid for.  Maybe there are other factors at work, or maybe I’m just insane, but I have yet to have any type of Italian food that even comes close to what I can make out of a can at home.

From previous posts, most know that I am a decent amateur cook, but I don’t claim I’m the best.  I can make some spaghetti that people absolutely love, sure, but I’ve always figured everyone could.  Lisa and I watch Master Chef, and Lisa thinks I could be on that show, but I’m blown away by what those people can cook.  But in the end, there’s the premise.  Have amateur cooks make restaurant quality food.

(poem) - Wearing Black while Baking Bread

Is there anything better
Than wearing black
And being covered by flour?

Cooking is so much fun
Baking is as well
Watching bread rise, hour after hour.

Mix everything together
Add the right about of spice
And suddenly an amazing flavor comes together

I never realized
It could be so much fun
Cooking in the kitchen with her

My wife and I
Make a great team
Doing everything together, time after time

When it comes down to creating
We make the best of teams
As we write a story, line after line

But together in the kitchen
Kneading out the dough
We make the most amazing things

With flavors so astounding
We are reminded
Of why we gave each other rings

Food nourishes the body
Enhances life itself
Especially with the right flavors

Our love nourishes our soul
Mix in the spices of our life
And our marriage resonates with a purr

So, in the end
Cooking food together
Sums up our love

Add just the right mixture
Makes all the flavors of life
Soar so high above.

--Dan

--Want more Poetry?  Check out my Poetry Collection Page!

New Orleans: A City of Amazing Food

Architecture, beauty, the occult and religion, and weirdness aside, New Orleans is know for its food.  Creole food.  Hot and spicy and completely different than anywhere else in the world.  You know what adjective describes it best?  Good.

I’ve had knock-off Cajun food all my life, and though I was always impressed, I’ve never been overly turned on to it.  I can say that the Cajun spiced chicken is the only chicken I’ll eat without a ton of ketchup, and the Cajun spiced turkey is the best tasting lunch meat you can get.

Spices are the Flavor of Life

I honestly can’t imagine a world with spices.  Known now, in the internet cute cat world, as ‘flavors’ food is pretty crappy without them.  Its amazing how for granted we take spices now, considering entire empires rose and fell because of the spice trade.

Spices go way back in human history, and have become such an integral part of every day life.  They are even mentioned a few times in the Bible, of all books.  Oddly though, I think of all the fantasy stories I’ve read, and they don’t really get too much into spices....  A shame.  Fantasy and Sci/Fi have really drawn a new connotation for the word ‘spice.’  In Star Wars and Dune ‘spice is a form of drug.

What is the 'perfect' body?

What is the perfect body? Is it pencil thin, is it curves, is it physically fit, or is it just being ‘well endowed’? I know I could lose a few pounds, but I’m glad I’m not a stick figure. I love my curves, as does Dan. I have, what they call, an hourglass shaped body. And even though its by no means perfect, I feel perfect within my body.

But I do honestly believe, that ‘society’ at large is telling me that I’m nowhere near beautiful. You can open any magazine, and see any advertisement, from makeup to perfume, and it shows the ‘perfect’ girl. Much of it is photoshopped, I’ve seen Dan pull off some amazing tricks with photoshop.... Quite a bit of what you see in any social media today is not real. Changing eye color, moving facial features around, putting on makeup after the face, even slimming down is all possible with the power of photoshop.