Cooking... In Someone else's Kitchen
>> Saturday, 4 July 2009
I spent several weeks with a friend in the USA and of course, I cooked. I felt totally off my cooking game. The simplest of tasks had me questioning my cooking skills. I found myself scorching things, burning things, under cooking some dishes and over cooking others. I have always felt that a good cook is one who is able to adapt to various cooking environments. I began to ask myself, if I was having so much trouble in this new kitchen… really… how good a cook am I? (Cue the dramatic music) Click here for the column and find out how things went.
These Plantain-Sausage Rolls are easy to make and delicious anytime. Here's what you'll need: ripe plantains (look for the ones that the skins have started to darken), your favourite uncooked sausage links, nuts of your choice ground finely but with a little texture. Bamboo toothpicks.
And here's now to make them:
- Cook the sausages first as they will take the longest. Let cool to handle and slice into 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick rounds. Set aside.
- Peel and slice the plantains and pan fry them. Working with them still warm, take one piece of sausage, place on the plantain and roll from one end to the other, roll in ground nuts, secure with toothpick and set aside. Repeat until all the sausages are used up. If you have plantains remaining, just roll them up, roll in nuts, secure with toothpicks and serve; or, you can elinimate the nuts altogether for those with allergies.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE TO ALL MY AMERICAN FRIENDS AND READERS!
74 comments:
What wonderful creations! Cooking in someone else's kitchen isn't all that easy....
Cheers,
Rosa
wow.. nice & great idea.. looks delicious.. nice clicks..
I've been lurking for a while on your site - overwhelmed by the wealth of recipes - these little sausage bites look wonderful - I have to try them! Lovely pic and styling!
Glad you're back, Cynthia. Tell us more about your travels!
It definitely is not easy to cook in somebody else's kitchen! I've had a gas oven for some years now and am totelly lost if I have to use an electric one.
Just looking at the pictures of the sausage rolls made me hungry! :)
Greetings,
Tiina
The sausage bites are so tempting....too bad I don't eat meat :( !
I have the same problem in someone else's kitchen. This is mostly because I don't feel as self confident as in mine.
These sausage bites are totally new to me. To be honest, I'm not used to eating sausage with a fruit especially plantain, but will try to see the result.
Happy 4th of July!
I would love to try that! Yum!
That looks so delicious Cynthia. And ur pics are so crisp and clear.Awesome.
Lovely pics. What a lovely idea. making my mouth water. I love fruit and meat together. I don't get plantain here but may try with bananas.
Those banana rolls look goregous, Cynthia!
I found myself laughing and shaking my head in agreement as I read your column. Visiting relatives in India last month, I had my share of mishaps last month, including letting milk boil over and scorch the stove :( Sigh :D
Happy 4th to you, too! I'm learning to cook with plantain -- it's not always successful, but this looks great!
It's also hard to cook with confidence when you move to a new home. You and the kitchen are strangers;it takes some time before you're as comfortable together as old shoes.
Love the look of those golden plantain rolls.
OH, that is so true about cooking in another country. I have that feeling when I try to cook in India. I am a little like an idiot savant.
Cynthia,
Plantains are one of my favorite vegetables!!!! I just love, love them.Those rolls look delicious.
Beautiful pictures as usual!
I don't think you are the only one who feels that way in someone else's kitchen. Every time I go to a friend's house and they want me to cook, something always goes wrong. But I think that's part of the learning curve, right? :)
wow! looks great! wonderful clicks!
I *loved* the column, as this is EXACTLY how I feel trying to cook in the Caribbean! The ingredients feel and look different, the meat is butchered differently into pieces I don't know what to do with, and the fruits and vegetables are shaped and cook differently. It's a whole different ball game!!
Wow looking awesome and mouthwatering.. the presentation is superb
They look delicious! I had never thought of combining plantain and sausage... but it looks to be a great idea :).
It is not very easy to adjust to a new kitchen, Plantain-Sausage Rolls are very delicious.
wow! what a fantastic, genius spin on pigs in a blanket! Love the use of plantains! SWEET!
Simply beautiful dish. How inspiring.
those banana pieces make me drool. i have no idea why!
Don't these look delicious, with no sign of struggle...I'm so glad to hear that you also struggle to adapt to different cooking counters...I always thought it was a sign of my own incompetence, which of course I now realize after reading your column, it is normal! Still very funny though!
ronelle
It takes a little practice to get used to another kitchen, but you seemed to have conquered with this delicuous treat:D
thats a wonderful creation, so unique! makes me drool!
Cynthia these look wonderful, so nice Cynthia, xxxlook delicious!! Gloria
this same thing happened to me a few weeks ago and I was nervous because the kitchen did not have all the herbs and spices I am use to cooking with so my crutch was gone and I had to make it happen. Why didnt I think of sausage in a plantain blanket that was an oh shoot momement they look great and it is an excellent appetizer.
First of all, what a lucky friend you have to have sampled ALL that cooking! You are welcome anytime in my kitchen and you can cook to your heart's content. AND I don't have those difficult to use flattop burners. It is hard to use someone else's kitchen. That's so interesting about the difference in sugar and also TAP WATER. Who would have thunk it? Great article.
Your friend is so lucky to taste your food for real.. i do it virtually :(
Hope you had a nice time!
Oh, for the love of sausages... these look fabulous!
How yummy! I love plantains.. green and yellow! Your application here must have been wonderful with sausage!
I know it's not easy to cook in someone else's kitchen esp. in a different country......
Nice dishes with superb presentation.....:)
So ... no need to pan-fry the plantains twice? I'd heard that they were difficult (despite having eaten the things in Mexico, just ... well, baked, fairly whole, skin-on even). Just ... fry, fry, and roll?
May have to try that. :)
Yum!
What sort of flavor do you go for in the sausage? Spicy? Hmm....
I guess it's not easy to cook without your own marks...
I consider recipe like guideline and I'm not surprise if they need adjustment to my environment, my equipment and my taste...
Thanks for the sago pudding recipe ! I bought some pearls lately and didn't know how to prepare them.
Absolutely gorgeous Cynthia. I've only ever tried plantains once as chips. Funny your comments about feeling out of your cooking groove -- exactly how I feel here without my own kitchen! I burnt toast three times in one go! Now come on!
From just the looks of the photos, I would say you're a pretty dang good cook! ;)
I always dread it when I have to cook when I visit relatives. The sausages look so tempting.
Whatever trouble you had in other people's kitchen, the outcome is still lovely my dear. So, you are a good cook, no doubt about that!
Those plantains rolls look so yummie!
Oh my goodness Cynthia, those little gems look so delightful! I love love love plantain! I can't wait to make these. Simply enticing.
Thanks for sharing...
These look very pretty. I'm the same way and have a lot of trouble getting good results (that i normally don't have trouble with) in a new kitchen.
I always have a difficult time in a strange kitchen--you don't know where things are, they might not have all the spices and herbs that you need, and their knives might not even be sharp. You can adapt, but I don't think it's really a true reflection on your skills.
Cooking in another's kitchen is no mean feat...loved the recipe :-)
I dont get fresh sausages where i live in malaysia can i try those packed type sausages?
Good thing you were able to adjust to a some one else's kitchen.
I don't like to cook in someone's else kitchen. I prefer to help. I'm always lost if it's not my own things. Wonderful creations.
I have and I'm sure many others have experienced an awkwardness in someone else's kitchen. The mere fact that appliances, utensils are elsewhere, fumbling to find a knife all break the rhythm but in the end, we all prevail.
Look at the appetizers? Don't doubt your skills...we all have off days too you know!
That's very creative!
I am imagining how it would taste in my mouth...? sweet nutty sausages...yumm!!!
Oh, my gosh! I'm in plantain heaven! I've gotta try this recipe! You KNOW I love plantain.
Paz
Wow, theese are really delicious!! About cooking in someone else's kitchen it's not as easy as it may seem.
kisses from Spain
I love that sweet and salty combination, looks terribly good and appetizing presentation :) and your sago cardamom pudding with sauteed bananas too!
Everything looks like a work of art and very delicious!!
Working in another kitchen not an easy thing to do such as ovens, they are so temperamental and the list goes on....
Can I just say how much I hate electric stoves?? They drive me nuts! That being said, I can totally relate to your experience.
Just loved ;>)
amazing and so simple to make. I know just need to find plantains in lonndon!
I completely agree with you on this, i too am uncomfortable in anybody Else's kitchen and come to think of it, decade ago the kitchen where i used to cook( My maiden Home) is suddenly a place for me where i go wrong even with the basic cooking.Find it hard to work in kitchen when i visit my Mother-in-law or any other family person's home.And then get a look(or i assume so...)"Oh and she is a food blogger..burning rotis and all"...lol
Coming to food, sausage rolls looks really appetizing and somehow reminds me of Gujrati Khandvi.
The pictures are just perfect, and i wonder what takes up longer time.... whether the food that you make or clicking it to this perfection ;-)
It sounds terrible trying to adjust to the glass-topped stove - you poor thing! Gas is definitely much easier to regulate. The plantain wrapped sausage rolls look great, and it's a nice reversal on things I've seen before like banana wrapped in bacon.
wonderful idea :) sound delish yummm!!
These look interesting, very different.
I know it can be daunting when you are not in your own kitchen, but what an experience to look back on!
Well, I only feel comfort in my own kitchen, because I now my oven , and where are my tool (Ok , some time I miss one or two ;))
I love the appetizers, they looks delicious, and the best part. Easy to make
wow u just make everything look so good.
I am going to make these--yum!!
What a great combo and a nice snack for a party. Would a sprinkle of cheese be nice?? instead of nuts.
Was wondering.
I know you are a good cook, Cynthia. I think it's just that we develop a level of comfort and being able to cook in our kitchens that we do it as second nature.
When you're in someone else's kitchen, you have to spend a lot more time looking, searching and thinking so it seems more difficult.
It's hard to cook in someone else's kitchen! It's also tough to cook in your own new kitchen. We move house a lot and learning how a new kitchen works is always on the 'challenge' list... along with finding a new hairdresser, new mechanic, figuring out where things go in the house, and where to hang artwork!
You know, I grew up using gas stoves and when I moved out on my own, all the apartments always have electric, and It's HARD to adapt to them! I still HATE electric stoves! I also don't know how to time using my pressure cooker, as it doesn't whistle, and thought that makes me less afraid, I never know how long to cook... trial and error.
LOL I make a fool out of myself cooking else where, & it starts with getting extremely nervous. I hate electric stoves.. & for my life cannot figure out when to switch it off, for it keeps on cooking even after that.
the rolls are such awesome party poppers:-)
I always feel weird cooking in other peoples kitchens I think it must be a comfort thing. :-)
What a great column--I hate cooking in unfamiliar kitchens, it is always an adventure, and frequently not in a good way!
these look so good and creative. i love sausage and love plantains so i think i wouldn't be able to keep my hands off of the appetizer tray if these were offered at a party.
WOW!!! The color, that bright pretty yellow, of the plantains has got me mesmerized Cynthia! I bet they taste very good! Shoot, I'd make them without the nuts and I'm sure I'd still love them. :-)
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