I maxed out my recipe binder. I think I've created, and perfected, each of the recipes that I lovingly collected and three-hole punched for that binder. I reached the pinnacle of my culinary prowess... Until I met Martha.
She came in my house through the front door. Her blonde hair was coiffed perfectly. Her ever-present, inviting smile a permanent fixture upon her visage. And she was lying in a smallish, plastic tub. All 12 of her!
Ginga, as my mom-in-law is affectionately known, finally relinquished a full years worth of Martha Stewart's Everyday Food magazine, bequeathing them to me. Each one of these mini-magazines is chocked full of the most tantalizingly delectable, culinary delights this chef has ever seen!
Needless to say, I'm starting all over again on a new cookbook. Due to the magazine's small size, I've found dual half-page page protectors to house these recipes. Score!
Now I'll have to scour the house to find an appropriate binder with which to contain my new treasure trove of recipes. In case you can't tell, I launched into the magazines immediately upon their arrival.
I have not yet told my wife and son that the menu of meals for this week has changed drastically. My gluten free chicken fried rice may become gluten free pork fried rice instead.
While I refuse to defile the sanctity that is hot dog night, oven-baked taco night has now become skirt steak with pan-fried polenta. Steaks have skirts? And just what the heck is a polenta? Yoo-hoo! Oh, Google!
Regardless, I've discovered around 50 new recipes to try out on my unsuspecting family. And that's just from three magazines! Nine more to go! My family has no idea just how lucky they really are!
Needless to say, I have a new, growing stack of recipes that require my attentiveness and mad chef skills. As they say, practice makes perfect!
Move over, Martha. There's a new chef in town!