another non-recipe

there was a time when my brain worked (pre-babies)...and i could actually follow a recipe.  people would eat my food and say, "that was delicious, sandra," and then i would simply state, "i can't take much credit.  i just followed the recipe."  wellll, next time i correctly follow a recipe and i dare serve it to anyone other than my hubby and children, i will reply to any compliments w/, "thank you!" and maybe even pat myself on the back and poor myself a much deserved glass of wine.  for those of you who have read any of my recipe posts, you will notice that i mess up...A LOT.  seriously, i cannot follow a recipe if my life depended on it!

in my last blog post, i mentioned a recipe i found in better homes and gardens.  it was for "gemelli w/ asparagus and sausage" and two days i ago bought all the needed ingredients.  i even mentioned to my friend mary how expensive fresh basil is.  i went on to explain that i had picked up one container that cost over $4 and then later replaced it w/ live growing basil in a bag for under $3 (i promise there is a reason for that whole shpeel).  i had planned on cooking yesterday but this mama has been working on coughing up a lung and there wasn't much energy to cook.  my sweet, sweet husband walked in the kitchen and saw all the ingredients sitting on the island and said, "do this tomorrow and we'll order in."  **SWOON**...**BIG HUG**...**BIG SMOOCHES**...thank you :).

i wasn't exactly feeling all that much better this evening, but the basil was only going to stay fresh for so long.  so, i start choppin', preparing and even took pictures to document the steps thinking i would share w/ you lovely ladies.

EVERYTHING is chopped and ready to go

i start boiling the water, cooking the meat, yada-yada-yada...

picture perfect (i'm super excited about my new YUM letters)

i continue the recipe.  i cook asparagus in the big pot for a few minutes and take it out and let it sit in a bowl.  i then cook pasta in the same pot.  the noodles are done, and i start taking them out and putting them  in the pan.  i take every last noodle out of the pot and into the pan, and then it hits me.  not only do i need a larger pan, but i was supposed to add the asparagus and other ingredients, let it marry and then add noodles.  SO, i spoon out the noodles and put them in another bowl (frustrated at the extra dishes being used).  i try to continue the recipe (in a wok) and then spot the mushrooms that should have been cooking w/ the onions and meat BEFORE everything else (now, i can't be too mad at myself as the mushrooms were added to the recipe by yours truly...again, i can't seem to follow a recipe).

whatever, i cook everything together, stir it up, serve them in bowls and sit at the dinner table.  i'm about to dig in when i realize...i forgot the basil.  FAIL.

i then heytell mary the basil incident and continue eating.  at the end of the day, it was still yummy and my fam enjoyed :)

little miss didn't miss the basil ;)

and my sweet, sweet mister walks in from exercising in the garage and asks how it's going (he had already witnessed the noodle transport).  i smile and say, "i forgot the basil.  i don't know what's wrong w/ me and why i can't read recipes!"...to which he says, "it's only b/c your sick."  oh honey...