Cooking isn’t really in my skill set – I’m the first to admit it. It’s a miracle hubby and I didn’t starve the first year we were married. Since then, my skills have improved, and I’ve learned enough to keep us fed. Still, unless it’s something very basic – spaghetti (jar sauce), chili, tacos, etc. – I have to use a recipe. I’m not one of those people who instinctively knows what a dish needs, although my youngest son is. From an early age, he’s been interested in food and cooking – and he surely didn’t get it from me. My oldest son considers food an energy source and doesn’t venture much out of his comfort zone. I do enjoy subscribing to a couple of cooking magazines and trying new recipes. Some are winners (a peanut butter pie recipe I got from a magazine ad) and others completely inedible (a tragic waste of prime rib). Hubby is kind of a foodie, so we decided to try something new. Every weekend, we’ll take turns choosing a new recipe to try and work on it together. This past weekend, we tried Spaghetti alla Carbonara. We turned on Pandora, opened some wine, and split up the cooking duties. Although the recipe had fantastic reviews, we weren’t that thrilled with it – probably three stars. Since I still can’t taste much or smell at all (two months now – thanks, COVID), I had to rely on hubby’s opinions. If you’re interested in trying it yourself, here’s the LINK We plan to continue this every weekend (unless we’re out of town), so this could become a regular update on Mondays.
I’m a fan of the TV show Supernatural. I haven’t watched all the seasons yet, but I’m working my way through them on Netflix. When I saw Jared Padalecki was starring in a remake of Walker, Texas Ranger, I decided to check it out. Not that I ever watched the original, but I like the actor and figured it’s something hubby and I could watch together (it’s like an act of God to get him interested in anything). While the show’s not going to win any awards, after three episodes, we’ve decided to stick with it. It’s already been renewed for a second season, so it might be around for a while.
Hope you have a great week – stay safe and healthy!
Books and Such 
I think it’s great that you are trying new recipes. I love to cook and especially if I can try something new. They don´t always turn out but it´s worth a try. Did I mention that an episode of Supernatural was filmed in my office in Canada? Obviously, we all had the day off.
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That’s so cool the show was filmed at your office, Darlene! I knew they filmed in Canada, but it’s kind of a big place, lol. Hubby and I will have fun trying these new recipes together. He’s saying Japanese for this weekend. It’s a gamble every time.
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I’m not a natural cook either. But both Dear Husband and I do cook, following simple recipes, because it’s a whole heck of a lot cheaper than buying take out or pre-packaged meals. I hope you get your smell and taste back soon!
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Definitely a lot cheaper, Priscilla. Over the years I’ve found a few recipes that have never failed me, but others have been a bust. I hope the smell and taste come back soon – so annoying. And I miss tasting chocolate!
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Oh gosh, I can’t believe you still haven’t regained your sense of smell and taste. I hope that changes soon. Thankfully, Derek enjoys cooking or we would starve! He cooks and I clean up the mess.
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A person my friend works with still hasn’t regained his taste and smell since losing them last May! I’m really hoping that’s not the case with me. Sounds like a good deal you and Derek have worked out. That’s the deal my youngest son has worked out with his roommates when he cooks for them.
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I love cooking and baking. I think it’s great that you and your husband are trying a recipe a week. I hope you keep telling us the results.
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I thought of you when I mentioned the jar of spaghetti sauce and imagined you gasping in horror, Staci, lol. Even if the recipes don’t turn out, it will still be a fun adventure.
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There might have been some nose-wrinkling, but I would never say anything if that’s what you prefer. (But if you want to make your own sauce, I’m happy to teach you.)
Definitely focus on the time together. That’s far more important than the end result.
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I’d love to make my own sauce! I’ve experimented several times, but we’ve never been happy with the recipes we’ve tried. I’d be eternally grateful if you emailed me a recipe!
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I’m also not a cooking expert and I honestly don’t enjoy cooking but surprisingly whatever I made so far new or the same old regular Indian food, it’s always good and often delicious. I also want to watch supernatural after I finish Bridgerton.
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I wasn’t a fan of cooking at first, but I’ve learned to enjoy it, Yesha. Indian food is also on the menu, so if you’ve got any recommendations, I’d love to hear them. My book club has been raving about Bridgerton, but I haven’t tried it yet. Saw it’s already getting a season 2.
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I heard something this weekend about people having to do a sort of physical therapy for their senses after having Covid to regain their sense of smell and taste. What a strange side-effect of a virus, huh? Hope you regain yours sooner rather than later.
I think Walker Texas Ranger is ok too. Big fan of Jared Padalecki from Gilmore Girls to Supernatural and I love that the actress who played Raven on The 100 found a spot in the show as well. Happy Monday!
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I’ll have to look into this physical therapy – I’ll try just about anything. I never watched Gilmore Girls (although my friend is a superfan) and The 100 has been in my Netflix queue for longer than I can remember. Have a great week, Tessa!
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I’m tolerable as a cook and a few recipes I do really well with, but the kitchen is not naturally in my wheelhouse. And I didn’t realize you’d had COVID! That must have been while I was offline. It sucks that after all this time you still don’t have your full sense of taste or smell restored.
I only watched the first two seasons of Supernatural and didn’t follow the original Walker Texas Ranger, but I do want to give the new show a try. Thanks for the reminder!
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Yep – it’s when you were offline moving – around the first two weeks of December. Hubby never tested positive, and we have no idea where I contracted it. But it definitely sucks I still can’t taste or smell.
Like you, I have a few recipes I do well and they’ve never failed me. But I always have to go by the recipe. Maybe you’ll have a new show to watch this week – a few episodes are out now.
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Your sons sound exactly like mine, Teri. My youngest loves cooking and my oldest is indifferent and doesn’t like change. I enjoy baking and dishes made with pastry, but I’m not a fan of everyday cooking which my husband or my mother do daily.
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That’s so funny, Robbie. My youngest was just telling me today about a new dish he made using mango-infused vinegar – my oldest would be absolutely clueless about that, lol. My problem with baking is that I like the batter better than the finished product!
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That sounds like a wonderful thing to do together.
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It was fun, Craig. Usually I cook, unless we grill out – hubby loves doing that. So this is something different for us. Now to find a recipe for this weekend.
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I didn’t inherit any cooking genes either, Teri. But your evening of wine-infused cooking together sounds rather wonderful despite the recipe being meh. My husband and I just binged “Black Sails” on hulu. So good. We’ve watched a few episodes of Supernatural and should tune back in, thought we’d probably need to start at the beginning again. Have a great week and Happy Writing.
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I’ve heard about Black Sails – another to add to my list! With so many seasons of Supernatural, I’ve been watching episodes on an off for a couple years, and I’m still just on season 4 I think? It could take me years to finish at this rate, lol. Have a great week, Diana!
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Black Sails is 4 seasons. Wonderful in so many ways and worth studying as a writer – great dialog and plot (when things can’t get any worse, they get worse!)
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Wow, Teri, that’s crazy that even after two months you don’t have your full sense of taste and smell back yet. Fun stuff, cooking with your hubby. And a bottle of wine certainly helps. Thanks for sharing!
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My friend works with someone who lost their smell and taste last May and still doesn’t have it back. Really hope that’s not the case with me! And I agree about wine helping, Jan, lol.
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I love the chillin’ bird. 🙂
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Gave me a great laugh when I saw it, Mark, lol.
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Carbonara would not be for everyone, so no surprise if it didn’t knock you over. I do most of the cooking because I like to try new recipes. I also have a new toy. An air fryer which I’m getting used to using. Fun post, Teri.
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Thanks, John! I saw some air fryer recipes this weekend that intrigued me, and I might be tempted to buy one. Could be a new thing for hubby and me to try.
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Can’t be the ORIDA fast food fries done in there.
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Horsefeathers! It’s awful that your senses of taste and smell are still messed up, Teri. I’m really sorry. There might be silver linings to the absence of some odors, but not taste. It makes me think of “iZombie” and her double jalapeno pizzas, and hot sauce on everything. But while you might taste all that hot stuff, it probably wouldn’t be good for your tummy… Take good care of you. Hugs on the wing.
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PS: It’s beyond lovely that you and your husband are cooking together. I used to be a decent cook… but that was decades ago. Now I rely on frozen whatever.
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Thanks to Tessa above, I was reading about “physical therapy” for people who have lost their sense of smell and taste with COVID. I’m off to find essential oils today to retrain my snout and remind it that we used to smell things, lol. Hugs, Teagan!
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I used to enjoy cooking but like you, I needed a recipe for most things. These days my husband does most of the cooking because I have some health issues. Anyway… he’s turning into quite the chef and having a blast. I had to chuckle at the photo of the chicken. 🙂
Hope your sense of taste returns soon!
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My hubby loves to grill, but he’s not that experienced in the kitchen, so this is a learning experience for him, but fun for both of us. That’s great your hubby has turned into a chef – so many recipes to experiment with in the kitchen – and you can be the taste tester, Joan!
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Chillin’ chicken – hilarious. Yep, I’m not overly adventurous when it comes to cooking either. As long as it’s somewhat healthy and easy to make, I’ll give it a shot. Wasn’t that guy in Gilmore Girls? His name sounds familiar.
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Someone else commented he was in Gilmore Girls, but I never watched it. And that chillin’ chicken gave me a laugh – had to include him.
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I hope your sense of taste and smell come back soo Teri! That must be awful!
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Keeping my fingers crossed, Sophie. I really want to smell chocolate again!
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That’s a really fun thing for you and your hubby to do together. Sorry your senses are still not recovered enough for you to fully enjoy the experience, but I hope the time with your hubby makes up for that. My hubby’s the same as you and only has basic cooking skills (though he does cook the limited number of items he knows how to cook well, so I’ll give him that). I’m one of those people who happily experiments in the kitchen, usually with good results, and makes most things from scratch. Not to brag or anything, but my baking skills are good enough that an announcement of, “I’ve been baking,” whenever hubby would have people over for gaming would be followed by a rush for the kitchen, since they knew my announcing it meant they were welcome to help themselves to whatever I’d made, and they were eager to do so.
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It’s something we’ll both enjoy, Tori, and maybe find some new never fail recipes. If your baking skill cause a rush for the kitchen, you’re definitely invited over for our next game night!
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