Cooking 101

So I went to see two movies yesterday. Had to go to Cheyenne and thought I would treat myself. The movies weren't expensive (in modern terms) as it was afternoon, and if you forgo popcorn (which is in keeping with my quest to fit an airport seatbelt on in just over a month) you can hit two movies affordably.
First off was "The Time Traveler's Wife." Man, was that good! Good story, good acting. Touching. It was nice seeing something with a science fiction background become an endearing love story. I highly recommend it!
Second, I went to see "Julie and Julia" and I laughed sooooo much! Wonderful story, very real. Julia Child was an amazing woman!
The premise is that a woman named Julie Powell sets off on a year-long project of cooking through Julia Child's first cookbook - something like 575 recipes in 365 days. She blogs the experience. This is a true story. The blog really existed. Now you have to know the parts about Child had to come from somewhere, and a quick trip to Barnes and Noble explained it to me. Those portions are taken from a biography written by Child's great-niece.
Well, it made me want to cook! From Child's book! My daughter, Meg, would love it as it is a book making French cooking easy for us Americans. Of course, then I would have to learn how to properly say the names of the dishes. I would need help with that, and Meg fits the bill loving all things French!!
Well, I got home, read some, went to bed, knowing I had to be sure to get up this morning to cover a story at the library (where I am hoping they have Child's biography, I am very intrigued about her now). I am moving a little slow. Just really tired. I get some mail ready to go out, get dressed and remember I have not eaten yet. Quick smoothie should do the trick.
I put in the ingredients up to the protein powder. Turning to the big container of the stuff (can they make that sucker any bigger!!) I realize I have put the wrong container there. I have a matching one that I am tossing all my change in. So I turn to get the right one from its wrong place and knock over the smoothie fixings. Not so bad until you see yogert, soy milk and bananas flowing off your counter, down the cupboards and making a puddle on your great-grandmother's throw rug.
I do not get mad (lovely new response) I just say "Nuts" and pick up the container, push all the stuff that is left into a hand and put it back in the cup. Wet a dishcloth, clean the counter and cupboard, snag the rug and toss it in the laundry room and go back and finish fixing the smoothie.
Now, I have had other kitchen disasters before. Overcooked, spilt, undercooked food. Stuff that tastes so bad you have to throw the whole meal away.
I am well-known for being clumsy, so this mornings near-disaster is not really a surprise. But it did make me wonder if I could get through any of Julia's recipes - without burning the house down. I would imagine the first rule of thumb is to keep the food in their containers! Though I do remember from the movie and stories I have read, that Julia tossed food where it didn't belong as well.
Maybe there is hope for me to be a cook after all.
Bon Appetit!