3rd Day

After trying cooking for the first time, I gained some confidence. Although it wasn't so good, it felt like I could do better next time. I think that some things should be done to realize that it is not so hard as it seems; for it was cooking. Yet I still have long way to go.

Today I feel like I'll go for a steak. I already bought it yesterday with the sauce they sell for steaks.

It wasn't that hard. They sold the mushrooms with the sauce so I cooked it with the steak. All I had to do is to be careful not to burn it. I had no difficulty with that because I liked it medium-rare. Of course, with my skills, I couldn't expect to cook it perfectly but I could hope that it will be delicious.

After I was done with the steak, I made some scramble eggs(also googled). I took out some kimchi left from yesterday and pickles.(There is no way I'm going to make kimchi myself. I don't have the skill or knowledge, nor do I have the intention to learn it.)

Anyway, I opened one of the wines I have(I like cheap wines, sometimes my father gives me more expensive ones as a present), and it was delicious.

This is how it looked: 

2nd Day

As the final exam approaches, the time I can use for other than studying is reducing. However, one must still eat. Besides, I don't have a skill enough to pull off cooking that is time-consuming. Therefore, I checked few cooking recipes on Google, looking for a menu that can be followed by a beginner such as myself.
The menu I chose was Kimchi Bokumbap(Kimchi Fried Rice).

Ingredients:

• 1 cup kimchi, drained and chopped
• 1/2 sweet onion, chopped
• 1 Tbsp finely chopped garlic
• 1 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1/3 cup thinly sliced beef, spam, pork, bacon, or ham
• 3 cups cooked rice
• Salt 
• 1 Fried egg 

When I went to E-Mart yesterday. I didn't think I would be making that so I don't have all those ingredients ready.  Hence, I went to the market which is nearby since I didn't have time to go to E-Mart again. Fortunately, I could find all the things I need for Kimchi Bokumbap at that market.

Expected Total Time: 20 minutes

According to the recipe, it will take 5 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook. 

Preparation:

1. If using bacon, saute briefly on an ungreased large pan and omit oil from next step. With any other meat or a vegetarian version, start with step 2.
2. Saute kimchi and onion in a lightly greased large pan over medium heat for a few minutes.
3. When vegetables begin to look transparent, add ½ Tbsp of butter, garlic, and soy sauce and saute for another 2-3 minutes.
4. Add meat or pork and continue to saute until meat is cooked.
    
5. Turn heat off but keep pan on burner.
6. Add rice and rest of butter, mixing to combine.
7. Salt to taste and top with fried egg to serve.

I started to get confused from the first step. It says 'omit oil from nest step'- does it mean that step 2 goes first? With  little bit of confusion I started to saute vegetables and kimchi on a pen . The pen I have is small so I couldn't do it all at once. I put thinly sliced beef, spam, pork, bacon, and ham in order; I realized later that it was 'or', not 'and'(I had to choose one of the meats, not use all of them). 

In short, I 'did' make it but I'm not sure if I can call it 'successful'. Vegetables were burned, too much meat, and the rice was cold at the time I was done with the fried egg(which had too much salt). In addition to that, it took me about 30 minutes to prepare while it should have taken 15 according to the recipe.

Nevertheless, I ate it. I think I can do better next time.  

1st Day

I've been doing a challenge of my own for past few days- cooking. I never really tried to cook in my life. I had many excuses such as: no time, no skill, and no interest. However, while wondering what kind of challenge I should choose, I noticed that may be I'm just afraid of trying something new. Of course, I will fail at my first try but what will I lose from it, except ruining some groceries I bought. So I just thought that I will give it a shot!!

The first thing I did on my first day of 10-Day Challenge is 'shopping'.

To be honest, I never considered buying groceries as something a person needs an energy and knowledge for. My mother used to ask me to go buy some milk or something when we were out of stock. It was easy. All I had to do is go and come back with the thing I was asked to buy. Yet, the reason I had no trouble of doing that was the fact that I was 'told' to buy a specific thing. When I went to E-MART to buy things for my first challenge, I realized that I had no idea what I needed for cooking. I really started the whole 'cooking challenge' without a plan. I simply thought that I will buy food, go back home, and start cooking. It was only when I got to the store that I realized that I needed recipe. With my zero-knowledge of cooking, standing there was like being in the midst of foreigners whose language I don't understand.

As a result, I failed to buy any cooking materials because I didn't even have decided what to try.  Thus, instead I bought some usually stuff like noodles, juice, can food, and etc.(things that one doesn't need to actually 'cook') Although I have failed, I will try again next time, tomorrow. On my second attempt, I will be more prepared and I will have a plan made; no more mistakes, I hope.