Before the Cookbook Arrives

I figured I can wing it on a simple appetizer like cucumber dip "Mahstoh Khee-ar." I took out every last cucumber we had and started skinning them over the trash can. Interestingly enough, I didn't notice that if they start to narrow out more in the middle that they will break in half right into the trash. So, I was more cautious to hold them in the center as I was skinning them to not feed the dumpster. I cut the cucumber into hair-thin slices then heavy chunks when I got tired. I dumped about half of a cup of chopped and diced cucumbers into the plain white yogurt (Mountain High brand is my favorite). I understand that some places don't have this yogurt as I painfully learned while in Illinois (which was an odd surprise since they actually celebrate Persian New Year). A Like-Kind-Quality alternative is Greek Plain White Yogurt.

I looked around the kitchen for mint and my mother dear gave me a bag of dried mint with the stems attached. I poured in a tablespoon and mixed it in, my face slowly puckering into a sourness as I realized that the fresh mint would have been better.

I sat the bowl down in the center of the table and we ate dinner that my step-father cooked; French stew with French bread. I watched my fiancé devour the stew and excuse himself from the table. I asked him to come back and try my dip. He pretty much ran up the stairs.

I offered the dip to my step-dad who ate every last bite, however said that it just wasn't made right. Alright, so even the easiest things are way out of my grasp right now. I think back to when Julia originally enrolled in the beginners cooking class and was over-it because she thought learning to boil an egg was too easy. I would LOVE to learn the basics.