Diary of a Rookie Cook

I've never really cooked. I pretty much eat the same way I ate in college, making whatever is fast, cheap, and easy.

But I want to cook. I mean, I really like eating, and cooking is a necessary first step to eating really well. I collect cookbooks, recipes, and cooking appliances, but I don't ever actually take the step of making anything.

So now that I have a proper kitchen I thought I could finally start attempting some of the recipes I've saved on Facebook.

Because they seem much easier than the recipes in the cookbook, frankly.

Recipe #1: Pecan Pie Bread Pudding

Seems simple enough!

Step one, get this enormous loaf of bread and let it sit for a day:

It occurred to me, that if the whole point of "day old bread" was for it to be dry, I probably should have taken it out of the bag. Oh well, I'm sure it will be fine.

I added everything to the big bowl and created something that looks like what peasants eat in medieval movies.

I also "chopped" the pecans by hitting them with my meat hammer while they were still in the bag. Worked great!

Yes, I have a meat hammer. No, I have never actually used it for its intended purpose.

I wasn't able to create the bread pudding lasagna that it recommends. This may be because I chose my pan based on the picture rather than the actual measurements in the recipe.

Close enough!

It tastes delicious. This one is a keeper. Easy enough that even I couldn't mess it up.