Cooking in a Panic
August 16th, 2005Success in cooking is achievable provided that the cook doesn’t panic. Timely adjustments may save a particular dish.
I recently attempted a recipe for spinach dumplings. The idea was to make the batter the evening before and to form and boil the dumplings just before serving. I was certain my batter was too mushy. The recipe suggested that I add one extra tablespoon of flour. I added several heaping tablespoons of flour and hoped the mixture would harden by morning.
It did not. I knew I was heading for a major culinary disaster and so I prepared a crust and made a casserole instead, adding a french onion topping at the end. No problem!
Time seems to be the factor that determines my level of panic. Yesterday I tried to saute spinach to accompany the top blade chuck steak. Being in a hurry I stopped thinking and dumped all of the spinach into one pan. The pan was overflowing and the spinach cooked at different rates, resulting in overcooked spinach.
I often recognize when there is a problem, but if I am in a panic I do not consider and implement solutions, as I did with the dumplings. I should have either used two pans or cooked less spinach. There would have been no loss of time and we would have enjoyed our dinner more.
But really…think logically — while under pressure!?
Etymology Out of Left Field
Did you know that most people who study this sort thing think that panic is derived from the name of the Greek god that is half man and half goat, Pan? I found this out recently while reading about Owen Barfield, one of the Inklings.
What about the god Pan allows for such a connection? I think of Pan and I think of pan-pipes and country dancing!
Every reference that I consulted listed a difference reason - Pan was ugly so he scared people traveling through the forest at night - Pan was the god of flocks and shepherds and could scare the sheep into stampeding - Pan could play some funky music on his pipes that scared people - Pan was the god of spooky noises at night…I am sure there could be more.
I just read that he was not averse to tearing people apart on occasion. A bit of a hot temper, perhaps?
Spinach dumplings? Top blade chuck steak? There’s your problem. Nobody panics when the water starts to boil for Kraft macaroni and cheese.
Once I made macaroni and cheese that turned rock solid.
Fortunately the Chinese restaurant was within walking distance.