Discovering a New Love

This year, I am doing something that I hardly ever used to do.

Cook.

I have also learned something about myself. I actually like to cook. When I say cook, I mean following directions, gathering ingredients, prep time, cook time, and all that jazz. Legit.

My previous lifestyle (graduate school, internship, full-time position in the field) rendered that impossible. Some may call that excuses. That may or may not be true, but that really isn't the point. My schedule was undetermined, so it was literally impossible to know when I was going to be home, let alone eat. There were times that I would leave the house around 9am, and would not get home from a client's home until 8pm or 9pm. The majority of the time, it would be around 6pm or later. I still needed to do what was required of me for the job (case notes, plans for visits, paperwork, service plans, etc), and homework for graduate school. Plus, I needed to spend time with my hubby, have "me" time, and blog. That left little time for anything. Even then, blogging and "me" time was neglected. Now, that the main issues are a part of the past, I have discovered a new love... cooking.

If it had not been for putting all of that behind me, I probably wouldn't have developed a love and know-how of cooking. When I say put it behind me, I mean graduate from graduate school and quit a job that was making me miserable. Now, I've been able to concentrate on my true passions. Moving along, I would have probably continued going through life the same way that I was before. Since I am taking care of the house, meal planning, cooking, and being all domesticated, I've been able to be creative. I have found that I don't 100% suck at being housewife. 

So far this year, I've made fourteen different things from recipes. That might not seem like a lot to some, but it is for us. It's a pretty big deal to us, and I am still continuing to look for many recipes every day to try,

Disclaimer: Sorry, for the poor quality in the pictures. I have a habit of using my cell phone to take pictures of the food, when I cook. As I continue this venture of cooking, I'm going to start using my DSLR again.

Everything is pretty healthy, except probably the twice baked potatoes (with bacon and cheese) and the pigs in the blanket.

Healthy Homemade Baked Chicken Nuggets

Potato Chip Chicken

Cheddar Baked Chicken and Twice Baked Potatoes (with bacon and cheese)

Pigs in a Blanket

Idaho Sunrise (hashbrowns, egg, bacon, and cheese)

Baked Seasoned Fries (herbs de provence,  oregano, smoked paprika, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, and cracked pepper) with Skinny Garlic Aioli

Porkchops seasoned with paprika, garlic powder, dried sage, dried thyme, salt and cracked pepper

Roasted Parmesan Green Beans

Skinny Baked Mozzarella Bites

Chicken Panini with Arugula, Provolone, and Chipotle Mayonnaise

Oven Fried Chicken (except it is NOT really fried, it is oven-baked)
Seasoned with kosher salt, garlic powder, paprika, fresh black pepper, and cayenne pepper

Garlic Cheddar Biscuits

Crispy Herbed Pork Tenderloin

The best recipe that I have made so far used to be the healthy homemade chicken nuggets. Now, it is by far the crispy herbed pork tenderloin. It was so incredibly yummy. I highly recommend it! I might just have to make it again and post the recipe. A close second would be the oven fried chicken, except it is NOT fried at all. It tastes so juicy, and is so much more tastier than fried chicken. These will definitely be repeats. I made the chicken panini with arugula, provolone, and chipotle mayonnaise specifically for my hubby, and he loves it.


So far, I have managed to cook 1-2 recipes everyday. Pretty crazy!





Do you like to cook?

If so, what do you like to cook?


What is something new that you've discovered you love? (hobby or activity or something like that)