Cooking With Cardamom, or How Does One 'Pinch' Salt?

New Years is just okay. Maybe I just don't get it, but in the 23 years I have experienced the heralding of a new digit at the end of our calendar and the firm kick-in-the-rear to the last, I have remained staunchly unimpressed. Okay, so a glittery ball inches slowly to the ground during the last minute of the "year." So streets are littered with confetti at the final moment as multitudes of people attempt to sing an archaic though admittedly pretty song that no one understands. Usually, I've spent those final moments feeling underwhelmed, as I critically rate the kissing skills of those unfortunate fools caught on camera in Times Square.

But for 2012 and reasons too boring to write, I am resolved to resolve a positive change in my life. Along with better time management and work/life balance, I have decided to start a cooking blog. Original, right?

This works to my advantage in multiple ways. One, I can show you lovely Potomac Patch readers just ; and two, I will -- ideally -- come away finally understanding the concept behind a "pinch" of salt.

Other than the fact that this biweekly blog will chronicle an attempt to expand my culinary horizons, I don't have much of a plan. It usually helps to start a blog with an idea of what you want to write, and maybe even a title. Unfortunately, the cool cooking blog titles have been taken and I'm a little self conscious of my ability to pun wittily. All I know is that I bought a very expensive spice called "cardamom" a few weeks ago, and by golly I'm going to use it.  Maybe I'll call this "Cooking with Cardamom" wherein each post I document my struggles with a new recipe using cardamom. More likely, I won't.

So anyway, I'll leave you here with a vague introduction to a sloppy blogging project, the goals of which are listed below. Like the thesis of my final paper in school, these will likely change. But that's okay, it's a blog!

1. Learn how to cook more adventurously
2. Master the art of "pinching" salt
3. Make the cardamom purchase worth the $15 I sadly handed to the cashier
4. Encourage the Patch community to blog, too (it's fun!)
5. To be determined