First Timer: The Diary of an Untrained Cook: Night Five: A Lot of Dirty Dishes

I think my entire kitchen counter was covered in dirty dishes after preparing tonights dinner. I realized that I really enjoy making soups! They are so satisfying, simple, and delicious. I love the color of a nice vegetable soup, and also all the different variations you can make on a simple recipe.
I have had such an amazing time with this project, but I am getting a little tired of cooking for 3 to 4 hours a day. While it is extremely rewarding, I am definitely realizing that preparing a meal is not as easy as I thought.

For Dinner I Made Three Dishes:

1) Calabaza Squash, Corn, and Coconut Soup
This was the biggest hit of the night! This particular soup turned out to be rich and creamy without the use of chicken stock or dairy products. I found low fat Coconut Milk and added a bit of that to the soup mixture, it was healthy and allowed the soup to have a creamy consistency. The original recipe called for quite a bit of cayenne pepper. At first I was skeptical about the amount of seasoning, but the cayenne added a nice kick to the soup. I added a corn relish and a dollop of sour cream to create a bit of a different texture along with the soup. This is a recipe that I will be making again!

2) Peanut and Curry Chicken Satay:
Chicken satay is a crowd favorite, and something I know I love to make. I am known in my house for my peanut sauce, so I incorporated that recipe into my chicken preparation. I utilized my new blender by making a lovely marinade and peanut dipping sauce. My mom and I spent some time together at the grill making sure the chicken was cooked perfectly. I really enjoy cooking with the members of my family, and sharing funny stories while we prepare the meal.

3) Caprese Salad with Grilled Peach:
This salad was a last minute addition to the dinner. After I realized I didn't have enough fennel for my original recipe, I ran to Trader Joes and picked up some fresh Heirloom Tomatoes. My mom and I decided to make a nice and summery Caprese Salad, and grill some peaches with balsamic to add a nice smokey flavor to the salad. My cousins who were over for dinner had never had grilled peaches before, and they were pleasantly surprised with the sweet taste. I loved having my extended family over for dinner tonight. We had great conversations and they were extremely supportive of my cooking!

After dinner I asked each guest what their favorite dish was, this is what they said:
Charlie (my brother's friend) - "The chicken was my favorite dish of the evening. It was moist on the inside and had great overall flavor."
Alex (my brother's friend) - "The chicken was also my favorite. The peanut sauce added a nice asian flair that I was not expecting. I loved the soup because the corn relish added a nice texture."
Jesse- "I enjoyed all three dishes. The flavors of all the dishes went well together. The soup was the perfect consistency especially with the corn and dollop of sour cream. The salad was surprisingly fresh and refreshing with the peach."
Abby (my cousin) - "I loved the chicken. The peanut sauce was yummy and well balanced. The peaches and burrata were also an unexpected treat."
Stuart (my cousin's boyfriend) - "I loved the salad. I had never had anything like that before due to the grilled peaches."
Dad- "The soup was my favorite dish because it was a new twist on a classic soup with the addition of cayenne pepper."
Uncle David - "Overall the presentation was beautiful. There was a sophisticated common thread throughout the meal tying the dishes together. The chicken was a nice combination of the marinade and the peanut sauce. All of the flavors complimented each other well.
Aunt Mindy - "I was surprised that you went in an Asian direction with the skewers and salad, I thought you were going to be preparing something Mediterranean. The color of the Caprese was in line with spring and was a fresh delight."
Mom- "I loved the soup. It was really light and I loved that it was dairy-free."

The best part of the night was not the food, but the incredible company of my family. This has already been such a great way to learn about the people I love and spend more time with them. I am grateful for the memories that we create at every meal.