Sometimes we truly have the best of intentions. Tuesday at work we were interviewing a man and his wife who were being considered to team teach some cooking classes our shop offers. They did a demo for us, just as if we were a proper class. They were terrific and certainly made everything they made look easy and do-able for the home cook. It was a fun demo that they did, focusing on potstickers and Asisan Lettuce wraps. Yum. Everything was super tasty. Any hey, lucky me, there were tons of ingredients left over and they said I could take it home.
So, after a nine hour day at work, I came home with the already made pork filling for about 48 pot stickers, and the marinated stir fry chicken mix for the Asian lettuce wraps. I was so excited, I called my husband, told him "Come home early, I have something super fun for us for dinner". I got Eva all excited and told her she could help me make the potstickers.
Eva and I filled the potsticker wrappers and assembled the little guys all ready to be cooked. That part of the experience was actually kind of fun. Something you can do with a three and a half year old. The stir fry chicken I figured we could do in five minutes after the potstickers were done.
Well.
They call them potstickers for a good reason. They stick like glue to your pan and won't flip over for love or money. After practically ruining one pan, I got out a skillet that had a superior non stick surface, and had better success. But still. Good grief, what a mess I made of my kitchen. I mean, I demolished it.
The lesson I learned was that I need to fry things a lot more often. Or, maybe never ever again. I am leaning toward the latter. It is now 8:47 as I write this, and my husband is still cleaning up the kitchen. I left grease spatters everywhere, two much-for-the-worse pans, and the kitchen a war zone. I mean, really, the kitchen was such a total mess, who cares if what you cooked tasted good or not?
The worst thing is, it made me so cranky. I was cross with Eva, sulky with my husband, and generally made the entire experience regrettable. If anyone remembers this day, it will be the day Nana was such a grouch.
And look what my girl did to cheer me up. She picked the prize winning clematis off the vine and brought it in to me to make me happy.
And you know what? It kind of worked.
51 responses to “Ack. It wasn’t my day.”
I am now a member of the I don’t fry club, ever! It’s such a mess. Growing up we had fried chicken every Sunday, and I honestly don’t remember a huge greasy mess, but surely there was one. Maybe it’s age but I’m now into cooking light and easy meals. The less time I’m in the kitchen the happier everyone is. Hope you get to sew today, I know that will put a smile on your face.
I am now a member of the I don’t fry club, ever! It’s such a mess. Growing up we had fried chicken every Sunday, and I honestly don’t remember a huge greasy mess, but surely there was one. Maybe it’s age but I’m now into cooking light and easy meals. The less time I’m in the kitchen the happier everyone is. Hope you get to sew today, I know that will put a smile on your face.
I am now a member of the I don’t fry club, ever! It’s such a mess. Growing up we had fried chicken every Sunday, and I honestly don’t remember a huge greasy mess, but surely there was one. Maybe it’s age but I’m now into cooking light and easy meals. The less time I’m in the kitchen the happier everyone is. Hope you get to sew today, I know that will put a smile on your face.
Good intentions that backfired to the extreme. So sorry. they do look delicious!
Mary
Good intentions that backfired to the extreme. So sorry. they do look delicious!
Mary
Good intentions that backfired to the extreme. So sorry. they do look delicious!
Mary
Oh, how disappointing. Huge hugs, my friend! This is why we don’t cook Chinese anything from ingredients. There is some mystery involved that escaped our notice in the past. Well, that said, we do stir fry occasionally in our wok and that works okay.
When that couple of cooks gives another demo, take a look at their cooking equipment and oil for enlightenment.
Happy today!
Hugs!
Oh, how disappointing. Huge hugs, my friend! This is why we don’t cook Chinese anything from ingredients. There is some mystery involved that escaped our notice in the past. Well, that said, we do stir fry occasionally in our wok and that works okay.
When that couple of cooks gives another demo, take a look at their cooking equipment and oil for enlightenment.
Happy today!
Hugs!
Oh, how disappointing. Huge hugs, my friend! This is why we don’t cook Chinese anything from ingredients. There is some mystery involved that escaped our notice in the past. Well, that said, we do stir fry occasionally in our wok and that works okay.
When that couple of cooks gives another demo, take a look at their cooking equipment and oil for enlightenment.
Happy today!
Hugs!
Some days are like that! So disappointing when you’ve been so fired up and expecting great results. I hope that today goes better for you.
Some days are like that! So disappointing when you’ve been so fired up and expecting great results. I hope that today goes better for you.
Some days are like that! So disappointing when you’ve been so fired up and expecting great results. I hope that today goes better for you.
Look on the bright side…you were cooking for your family & not a dining room full of guests! And, maybe it was a good idea to try out the demo’d meal before a shop customer became upset with the difficulty of preparing it once they went home! I agree with Thelma & hope you can get some time to sew today! (It appears the exclamation mark cut-back has failed for me!)
Look on the bright side…you were cooking for your family & not a dining room full of guests! And, maybe it was a good idea to try out the demo’d meal before a shop customer became upset with the difficulty of preparing it once they went home! I agree with Thelma & hope you can get some time to sew today! (It appears the exclamation mark cut-back has failed for me!)
Look on the bright side…you were cooking for your family & not a dining room full of guests! And, maybe it was a good idea to try out the demo’d meal before a shop customer became upset with the difficulty of preparing it once they went home! I agree with Thelma & hope you can get some time to sew today! (It appears the exclamation mark cut-back has failed for me!)
Pot stickers are so delicious and worth the occasional mess. I adore them.
That clematis is lovely too.
Pot stickers are so delicious and worth the occasional mess. I adore them.
That clematis is lovely too.
Pot stickers are so delicious and worth the occasional mess. I adore them.
That clematis is lovely too.
We have all had that day. And Clematis and a beautiful quilted table topper always make it all better! Those granddaughters always know just what to do.
We have all had that day. And Clematis and a beautiful quilted table topper always make it all better! Those granddaughters always know just what to do.
We have all had that day. And Clematis and a beautiful quilted table topper always make it all better! Those granddaughters always know just what to do.
We love potstickers & I cook them occasionally, but I buy the ones in the frozen section of the grocery store. I start by frying in oil. When it’s time to turn them I add a little chicken broth or water to help release them from the skillet. Sometimes I put the lid on to steam them a little. Works very well. Give them another try. I’m sure they’ll turn out great next time.
Amy
We love potstickers & I cook them occasionally, but I buy the ones in the frozen section of the grocery store. I start by frying in oil. When it’s time to turn them I add a little chicken broth or water to help release them from the skillet. Sometimes I put the lid on to steam them a little. Works very well. Give them another try. I’m sure they’ll turn out great next time.
Amy
We love potstickers & I cook them occasionally, but I buy the ones in the frozen section of the grocery store. I start by frying in oil. When it’s time to turn them I add a little chicken broth or water to help release them from the skillet. Sometimes I put the lid on to steam them a little. Works very well. Give them another try. I’m sure they’ll turn out great next time.
Amy
I love potstickers and yours looked tasty at least! My husband makes them all the time and he says they don’t stick. Just fry one side and then add ice cubes to the pan, cover with the lid so it steams. We usually make a batch and freeze them. They turn out just like the ones at the store 🙂
I love potstickers and yours looked tasty at least! My husband makes them all the time and he says they don’t stick. Just fry one side and then add ice cubes to the pan, cover with the lid so it steams. We usually make a batch and freeze them. They turn out just like the ones at the store 🙂
I love potstickers and yours looked tasty at least! My husband makes them all the time and he says they don’t stick. Just fry one side and then add ice cubes to the pan, cover with the lid so it steams. We usually make a batch and freeze them. They turn out just like the ones at the store 🙂
ah, a happy ending. Pretty clematis bloom!
ah, a happy ending. Pretty clematis bloom!
ah, a happy ending. Pretty clematis bloom!
The last (and only time) I tried to make potstickers I very nearly set my kitchen on fire.
The last (and only time) I tried to make potstickers I very nearly set my kitchen on fire.
The last (and only time) I tried to make potstickers I very nearly set my kitchen on fire.
Cooking isn’t one of my innate skills and since I’ve never taken classes, cooking (even old tried and true recipes) can sometimes turn into a disaster … messy kitchen and grumpy cook. As a result, I keep most of our meals simple. 😉
Cooking isn’t one of my innate skills and since I’ve never taken classes, cooking (even old tried and true recipes) can sometimes turn into a disaster … messy kitchen and grumpy cook. As a result, I keep most of our meals simple. 😉
Cooking isn’t one of my innate skills and since I’ve never taken classes, cooking (even old tried and true recipes) can sometimes turn into a disaster … messy kitchen and grumpy cook. As a result, I keep most of our meals simple. 😉
Bummer. Never ever try to cook something new on a day when you worked. that’s my philosophy anyway.
the flower is lovely. ;p
Bummer. Never ever try to cook something new on a day when you worked. that’s my philosophy anyway.
the flower is lovely. ;p
Bummer. Never ever try to cook something new on a day when you worked. that’s my philosophy anyway.
the flower is lovely. ;p
Ohhhh, little Eva saved the day!! Beautiful flower. Love it.
Sounds like you under took a huge project. Haven’t tried making potstickers. They look good in the picture. Reminds me of days when our kids were little. We would undertake a kitchen project and end up with a huge mess and I would feel grumpy and wonder if it was worth it or not. 🙂
Ohhhh, little Eva saved the day!! Beautiful flower. Love it.
Sounds like you under took a huge project. Haven’t tried making potstickers. They look good in the picture. Reminds me of days when our kids were little. We would undertake a kitchen project and end up with a huge mess and I would feel grumpy and wonder if it was worth it or not. 🙂
Ohhhh, little Eva saved the day!! Beautiful flower. Love it.
Sounds like you under took a huge project. Haven’t tried making potstickers. They look good in the picture. Reminds me of days when our kids were little. We would undertake a kitchen project and end up with a huge mess and I would feel grumpy and wonder if it was worth it or not. 🙂
What a sweet little thing to pick you a special flower…..just because she thinks you are special. Hope you have a better day tomorrow…
What a sweet little thing to pick you a special flower…..just because she thinks you are special. Hope you have a better day tomorrow…
What a sweet little thing to pick you a special flower…..just because she thinks you are special. Hope you have a better day tomorrow…
Awe, a happy ending to a disappointing endeavor in the kitchen! I hate that when that happens!
You will make them all forget when you whip up a fantastic Easter dinner!
Awe, a happy ending to a disappointing endeavor in the kitchen! I hate that when that happens!
You will make them all forget when you whip up a fantastic Easter dinner!
Awe, a happy ending to a disappointing endeavor in the kitchen! I hate that when that happens!
You will make them all forget when you whip up a fantastic Easter dinner!
LOL I learned that lesson the hard way too! I love pot-stickers and I make them often, but I’ve learned that even with a non-stick pan, you still need a little bit of oil. And the heat can’t be too high.
But whatever. Eva also learned a valuable lesson – there are times when something as small as a flower can make someone else feel better.
And I don’t do fried foods either – only at a restaurant… where someone else has to clean up the mess. 🙂
LOL I learned that lesson the hard way too! I love pot-stickers and I make them often, but I’ve learned that even with a non-stick pan, you still need a little bit of oil. And the heat can’t be too high.
But whatever. Eva also learned a valuable lesson – there are times when something as small as a flower can make someone else feel better.
And I don’t do fried foods either – only at a restaurant… where someone else has to clean up the mess. 🙂
LOL I learned that lesson the hard way too! I love pot-stickers and I make them often, but I’ve learned that even with a non-stick pan, you still need a little bit of oil. And the heat can’t be too high.
But whatever. Eva also learned a valuable lesson – there are times when something as small as a flower can make someone else feel better.
And I don’t do fried foods either – only at a restaurant… where someone else has to clean up the mess. 🙂