Flashback to the 1990′s.

Past: When I was little, I have some very fond memories of when I would visit my grandmother on my dad’s side. I always remember the bright colored roses that lined her driveway on both sides and how you could smell their strong scent. I remember picking berries in her backyard off the huge bushes and popping them in my mouth without washing them first. I remember playing games like Hi Ho Cheerio and having tea parties with our pinkies in the air while sipping off the tea cup.

But, my favorite memory is the food she always made…frozen bananas on a stick with chocolate, rice crispy treats, her amazing spanish rice and beans, or my all time favorite… stuffed artichokes.

Present: I am now settled into my apartment in Portland. I currently have no job but am very eagerly searching for a one. With so much extra time in my day, I decided to make stuffed artichokes for the first time, ever.

First I googled recipes… and became a little confused.

Then I decided to go on YouTube and try to watch some videos of people preparing them and I could follow along. But, they were all going so fast, I had to pause every 10 seconds. So I gave up on the videos.

I just winged what I read and what I saw. After I steamed them, I went to take them out of the pot and I guess I steamed them too much- they fell apart! Not the whole thing, but enough for me to say, “wtf, seriously” in my head.

Anyway, I put them in the bread crumbs and stuffed the leave things.

But I melted a ton of butter to dip the pieces in, so it will be great.

I am learning how to cook. But after the looks of these:

I might have to stick to shake and bake, pasta, and food that doesn’t take much time to prepare. Or maybe I should stick with a frozen banana on a stick covered in chocolate. I can go for one of those babies right about now.

Future: Frozen chocolate covered bananas on a stick!