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Because not knowing how to cook . . .

As I've said before, how Robert Rodriguez explains his process of making films is inspiring to me. Even though I'm not tempted to make a movie, he's a message of "green means go!" to whatever you want to do. So it's not just with writing another book for me; it's now translating into cooking.

Since I cook for myself, I tend to take the really easy path: heat up something in the oven between fifteen and forty minutes. I get frustrated really easily with trying new things, but every once in a while I come across something where I believe I could possibly do. (I'm well aware that's something that goes beyond the kitchen, but in order to stay on track, let's stay in the kitchen mindset.)

Recently, I checked out the "10-minute Cooking School" featurette on the Sin City double-disc DVD set. The dish this time: breakfast tacos made from scratch. The first thing he recommends is making your own tortillas. Since he has a very simple recipe (and good reason to not eat the store-bought, rubbery kind of tortillas), I was tempted to try this myself.

Though I plan on using different kinds of filling for the tacos (salsa and turkey bacon, along with scrambled eggs), the inspiration is in place. But the devil's advocate in me wonders why I shouldn't just buy some ready-made breakfast tacos from the store or a fast food place. Or better yet, hit up the excellent, locally-owned taco place around the corner from my house. Because I have the desire to try something that I might horribly fail at and not feel like a total loser if I do.

So far, my attempts to cook things have not rendered a sense of strong disappointment to the people I've served my food to. There are no moans or groans of severe displeasure. There are no, "You should never do that" statements. Nope, it's just me and my attempts to do something. And for me, as long as people don't vomit or get sick because of my cooking, then I think I should stick to trying new things in the cooking department. When that attitude will transfer into other departments, that's left to be seen.

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