A non-technology article:
I’d like to wish everyone a safe and fun July 4th. As someone who isn’t very nationalistic, I identify these kinds of holidays as a good excuse to get together with family and friends and just have an enjoyable time, and I hope that everyone will do just that.
Enjoy this easy and tasty recipe, it is easy to make and very basic. Requires only a small amount of labor. I hope you will share the final product with your friends and family on this 4th of July:
Cherry Cream Crescents
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened.
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 egg, separated
2 tubes (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent rolls
1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, and egg yolk. Separate dough into 16 triangles; place on lightly creased baking sheets. Spread 1 tablespoon of cream cheese mixture near the edge of the short sides of each triangle. Top with 1 tablespoon pie filling. Fold long point of triangle over filling and tuck under dough. Lightly beat egg white; brush over rolls. Bake at 350F for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Yield: 16 rolls.
For those of you who say “But I’m a really bad cook!”, read on.
Cooking isn’t something that a lot of people find to be fun, but I think it should be. I have always enjoyed cooking. One danger that people find when they cook is that the food they make just doesn’t turn out right. This has nothing to do with talent. Many people only fail at reading and following directions. A good rule: You can’t be creative with food until you’ve made it correctly. Don’t modify recipes and take shortcuts until after you’ve successfully made it in a way that someone else has — follow the recipe step-by-step.
When it comes to adding your own creations for the first time, stick to the basics. Don’t do anything extreme, modifying a recipe successfully takes time. Before you start changing core measurements, start by changing spices. My “staple” spices that I experiment with are cinnamon, vanilla extract, almond extract, and cloves. It gives many foods the touch of being unique and tasting great.
When searching for recipes online, always find more than one and compare them. I’ve found recipes that are very contrasting, and have had to look up more before I made my final decision.
If you are new to cooking, don’t try something complicated. If it calls for 12 dozen egg whites and saffron, you might have gone too far. Stick to the basics and work your way up. For baking: Cookies, basic cakes, and any recipe that can be made up in less than an hour are a good place to start. Breads are a good “level 2”. For cooking, pastas like spaghetti are great, especially when it comes to making your own sauce. Try looking up recipes for things you already make like roasts and get new ideas. If you like “Hamburger Helper” type meals, try opening up your recipe book or searching online for the same thing. You might be surprised at how easy they are to make.
My list of things that are much better made at home than bought at the store:
Bread. Bread is absolutely the best when made at home without preservatives. Nothing beats slicing up a loaf of bread that is still warm and eating it with a bit of butter on top.
Refried beans.
Spaghetti sauce, nothing beats having fresh ingredients in a home made sauce.
Cookies of any kind. Mmm!
Lemon bars with real squeezed lemons. Lemon-aid follows shortly. Lemon meringue pie also deserves mention.
What experiences have you had with cooking? What has been your worst thing to cook? What is your favorite thing to make? Comment below!
