Scratch That…

As I made my oatmeal this morning, I could hear my mother’s voice mocking me in my head, “Did you roll your own oats?” No Mom, I didn’t roll the oats myself. Remember, I am doing this experiment to become a better cook. I still have to read the directions on the package to make oatmeal. Sad, but true…

My internal voice of my mother got me thinking, maybe I should provide my definition of “from scratch.” I do not grow my own vegetables or fruits (I currently live in a place that would not be conducive to year-around food growth). I do not churn my butter from cream. And, I certainly do not roll my own oats. What I mean by “from scratch” is that I go to the grocery store and buy my ingredients and make my food. I rarely make food from a mix. I know it is easy to, but I also know with only a little more effort, I can make something that tastes better and have confidence that what I am eating is not something that was made up in a lab somewhere.

On the topic of oatmeal, I’m really not sure why instant oatmeal is sold. It only takes a few minutes to boil the oats so I don’t see why or how that is any different than adding water to the “instant” mix and nuking it for a couple minutes.

I wasn’t joking when I said I still need to read the directions on the package to make oatmeal. I am kind of a freak when it comes to reading directions. I will read it once and start gathering the ingredients. Then, questioning myself I read the directions again. After I have started to mix the ingredients, I read the directions yet again just to make sure. Then, while whatever it is that I am making is cooking I go back and yes, I read the directions again. It is a confidence thing. I am still pretty new to the whole cooking scene and I don’t trust myself when it comes to anything I do in the kitchen. My husband can attest to the fact that I am the world’s slowest cook.

Upon my fourth time reading the directions, I normally find at least one step or ingredient that I somehow missed. It is definitely a flaw, something I need to work on. I am trying to free myself of the direction trap I often find myself in. So next time I make oatmeal I will try to remember that there is twice as much water than there are oats. Doesn’t seem like it would be that difficult to remember, but for some reason I always forget.