TOO MANY COOKS IN THE KITCHEN

And by too many I mean "more than one." I've realized why it took me so long to learn to cook - I really hate that feeling of someone watching over my shoulder telling me that I'm gripping the knife wrong. Just try learning to cook from your mother ... it'll happen.

Now try learning to cook from your boyfriend's mother.

Boyfriend's parents came into town and instantly threw me into "cooking school." After all, boyfriend needs his favorite dishes prepared. Plus side ... I've saved about $500 on cooking lessons and feel a little more like a woman. Down side ... I was on my feet for thirteen hours listening to someone tell me I was holding the knife wrong and feeling like less of a woman for most of those hours.

I am now the proud owner of many cards scrawled out by hand while trying to figure out what a "handful of red powder" translates into for a recipe. Hands off to boyfriend's mom for not rolling her eyes too many times when I asked "so that was how many teaspoons of what spice?"

Things I didn't know before this past weekend :

- we have different names for pretty much every spice. Which is great since I can't get them straight in english in the first place.

- Indians think Americans can't handle spice. Which is probably true.

- there's another word for saute and when I use the word saute it seems to be offensive.

- I now know why boyfriend has a sodium problem. "Just a little more salt..."

- "butter is good for your digestion" (if they ever find out I'm trying to be vegan I think it'll be over.)

Ahhhhhh parents in town ... anyone want indian food? We have seventeen frozen containers in the fridge. Just hands off my samosas! (see blurry photo ... all made fresh by hand)