• ikea meatballs
    • attempt #1 (8/10, sauce a bit too rich, too much onion)
    • attempt #2 (6/10, used ready-made meatballs that tasted like cheetos and a whole stock cube, did taste a bit radioactive. nice and filling, though)
    • attempt #3 (9/10, amazing! no onions at all. way too hard to make in my subpar kitchen, but very very good)
  • stroganoff
    • attempt #1 (7/10, needs more interesting flavours, too much rice, crisps on top would make it better)
    • attempt #2 (8/10, smooth process and good result, try adding worcester sauce next time)
    • attempt #3 (7/10, not enough sauce and chicken a bit chewy. double the amount of cream and less time reducing)
    • attempt #4 (8/10, don't think i can make it better, it's a simple dish. added worcester sauce and some other stuff, it tasted good. made with beef, better than chicken i think)
    • attempt #5 (10/10, yes! finally! i can make it better! used an overly-complex bbc recipe, skipped a few ingredients, used fresh mushrooms and beef stock and it's exactly how i always knew it could be)
  • spaghetti bolognese
    • attempt #1 (7/10, satisfying but simple, too much sauce to pasta ratio)
    • attempt #2 (6/10, half-assed, not enough sauce to pasta ratio. must look for a slightly fancier recipe)
    • attempt #3 (8/10, adapted bbc recipe and much longer cooking time. better! spaghetti a bit squishy. just use better-quality pasta)
    • attempt #4 (9/10, the secret's the long cooking time, always longer than you think. add water if it reduces too much. as good as i need to it be for now)
  • pea and sausage soup
    • attempt #1 (5/10, chunky, kind of undercooked, i'm rubbish with pressure cookers. just add more water next time i guess)
    • attempt #2 (9/10, surprisingly easy and good with my grandmother's pressure cooker, maybe the problem last time was just equipment)
    • attempt #3 (4/10, wrong type of sausage, tasted and looked like a liquid hot dog, very thick and clumpy)
    • attempt #4 (7/10, just can't seem to get this right with my own pressure cooker. i guess it's down to good ingredients and the right water to peas ratio. i'll figure it out eventually)
  • salpicão
    • attempt #1 (9/10, pretty good, try adding apple maybe)
    • attempt #2 (7/10, used weird pre-cooked chicken)
    • attempt #3 (9/10, use good chicken, cream then just a tablespoon of mayonnaise, bit of mustard)
  • chicken soup
    • attempt #1 (6/10, meets bare minimum requirements, but a bit mushy and basic. experiment with cooking time and a few twists)
    • attempt #2 (6/10, chicken soup is surprisingly tricky? add more rice and more vegetables next time, and figure out best part of chicken to use that isn't a pain in the ass)
  • french toast
    • attempt #1 (8/10, can it be so simple? i've spent my life trying to make french toast and for some reason it never worked. this time i just made it exactly like i always do/like all the recipes tell you to, and... it's normal and good)
  • chicken and pumpkin
    • attempt #1 (10/10, wtf i started cooking this not knowing what i was trying to make and it ended up being one of the best dishes i've ever made. i don't even know if i could recreate it. so good)
    • attempt #2 (10/10, i know this mostly tastes good because it's full of cheese, but also, allowing it to burn/brown just a bit gives it a caramely richness, this tastes so lush)
  • stovetop green bean casserole
    • attempt #1 (9/10, again, this isn't groundbreaking but i don't think i can make it much better, it was really easy and tasty, i can make this all the time)
  • kung pao pasta
    • attempt #1 (8/10, easy and complexly-flavoured enough. i didn't have peanuts! so must make again. add vegetables next time)
  • tomato soup
    • attempt #1 (9/10, really using just a bit better recipes and allowing something its proper cooking time make such a difference. this is basically perfect and i expect to make it all the time from now on)
    • attempt #2 (8/10, tried a three-ingredient recipe. i thought it was objectively good but the visible onion bits put me off)
  • chilli con carne
    • attempt #1 (9/10, it just kind of worked)
    • attempt #2 (10/10, maybe the doritos i had with it are what made it taste so good, but it was good)
    • attempt #3 (9/10, this new recipe is kinda crazy and fun but i eyeballed all the quantities and i think it could be slightly better)
  • golden curry
    • attempt #1 (8/10, may not seem cost-effective but you really get so many portions out of a box. it's not the healthiest but still a good way to eat a lot of vegetables, and the best way to satisfy a craving for a decent curry while in brazil)
  • mushroom pasta
    • attempt #1 (9/10, proper good, but buying three kinds of mushrooms is not our style. but i was proud of it!)
    • attempt #2 (9/10, just used button mushrooms and fine, maybe not as high-quality was using a million obscure varieties and soaking them for hours, but really tasty and i can actually make this regularly)
  • albondigas soup
    • attempt #1 (9/10, was just a bit clumsy in making the meatballs, and too much egg, but fuck it tasted good)
  • creme de milho
    • attempt #1 (8/10, because i knew it was basically salted milk it tasted a bit snotty to me. but objectively, it was good)
  • chicken katsu
    • attempt #1 (9/10, jack bought pre-diced chicken so it took forever to make, but it was really good. would go well with creme de milho i think. try proper seasoning with sake next time, too)
  • stovetop mac & cheese
    • attempt #1 (9/10, pretty good! only used minas cheese)
  • ginger and carrot soup
    • attempt #1 (9/10, fine, can cook again)
  • adobo
    • attempt #1 (8/10, i braced myself for more weirdness than i got, also i don't understand how meat stews work really)
  • steak vietnamese noodle salad
    • attempt #1 (8/10, pretty good, steak overdone)
  • gazpacho
    • attempt #1 (9/10, good! bit less honey next time)
  • bangladesh curry
    • attempt #1 (8/10, less water next time!)
  • leek and potato soup
    • attempt #1 (8/10, i really need to get an immersion blender; a bit overcooked, try this trick with the paper next time see what happens)
  • julia child's salade niçoise
    • attempt #1 (9/10, tasted really good though felt chaotic to make and i guessed all the quantities)
  • frango a parmegiana
    • attempt #1 (9/10, so gooooooood)
  • alphabet soup
    • attempt #1 (7/10, i think i've outgrown these mum recipes. what is tomato sauce, anyway? i used some diluted passata, whatever. it's really tasty but i'm weirded out by it)
  • lentil soup
    • attempt #1 (10/10, trying lentil soup recipe no. 20493... what can i say, it's good. saving this recipe and until next time)
  • creamy lettuce soup
    • attempt #1 (9/10, i used to make this all the time, it’s my brand)
feb 8 2019 ∞
may 8 2022 +