cooking.

photo from blogger, cake student.

i have always wanted to learn how to cook.  i can cook simple dishes.  though those dishes don't number that many.  i definitely get deterred by all the ingredients that i need to buy or find.  i would really like to learn how to cook the main dishes, side dishes, and soups.  most of the time, i find myself baking.  maybe it's because the ingredients are few and simple:  butter, flour, eggs, sugar.  the one cookie recipe that i've mastered is the snickerdoodle.  the first few times i made it, i altered the amount of each ingredient until it finally turned out nice, chewy and a little puffy.  i was basically trying to get it like the cookies at diddy riese, a cookie shop in l.a.'s westwood neighborhood.  i actually think mine are better.  yes, i believe they are :) 
my next cookie recipe i want to try is the chocolate chip cookie and i've found an awesome recipe online here.  that recipe i may not have to alter.  it looks perfect in the photo.  after that i may try the soft pretzel.  soft pretzels are one of my favorite snacks.  this recipe is from alton brown's book, good eats 3.