Cooking adventures.

So... I don't cook all that often. That's pretty much gotta change. My roommates already make fun of me for eating sandwiches all the time. Anyway, I decided to show them I'm not totally helpless... so I baked an apple pie! Plus, I was feeling sentimental missing Autumn back home while all of my friends are busy apple picking, cider drinking and pumpkin carving.

The adventure in the grocery store was something else... and took almost as much time as it took to bake the damn thing. Spain does not have vanilla extract, the flour is hidden away in the fish section, and I could not think of the word for butter (mantequilla) for the life of me... nor could I describe to the woman working at the grocery store what it was. "Es como aceite de oliva... pero de forma sólida" (¿Cómo?) I also tried, "Voy a cocinar un pastel. Entonces necesito... harina, huevos, azúcar... y ¿qué más?" Got nothing.

However, ingredients in hand (and notebook lost somewhere along the way), I went home. Then I had to buy a pan. Then I realized I have to convert every single measurement into grams or liters. Add an hour onto this endeavor. Oh great, no rolling pin. And hey, how about I spill all of the eggs on the kitchen floor while I'm at it? To top it off, I picked a rather complicated recipe (receta): http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/apple-pie-recipe/index.html.

All I can say is, the final product was well worth the hassle. And thank God for music in the kitchen! In the end, my roommates loved the pie, and I got a kick out of making them say "apple pie." While the recipe seems complicated, I have to admit it's beyond worth cooking the apples down before putting the filling in the crust.

Well... it looked better pre-being-eaten

Now I need a vote for the next cooking-American-food adventure:

1) Fried chicken & mashed potatoes

2) Meatloaf... with mashed potatoes

3) Homemade mac & cheese

4) Chicken casserole

... Or any other suggestions! Also, my cooking isn't a complete disaster. I must say I make a mean pasta with fresh veggies. Vegetables here are so cheap, and yummy!

Update: Just made a ballin' salchicha (sausage), sautéed mushroom, onion and garlic.... sandwich!!!! Call me the sandwich queen. What can I say, gotta stick with what I know best.