Vindicated!

This list, of The Top 10 Signs You're Becoming a Better Cook, makes me feel much better.  Because my husband grumbles at me sometimes for not following recipes, or not knowing exactly how much of an ingredient I  use in a recipe, or substituting one thing for another.  And these, plus the fact that my parents trust us with Thanksgiving, except the turkey, are apparently signs of improvement and skill, and not laziness.

The only one I don't have down is 5.  I still consult my recipes pretty regularly, but mostly to remember what-all goes in something, or the right ratio of barley to water.  But I choose to believe that I need to use recipes because I choose to make increasingly complicated meals.

Do you think the signs are spot-on, like I do?  Or do you have your own list of what makes you a better cook?  (Like, the fewer times you have to throw away dinner or trash the leftovers, the more you are improving?)

Link Love

I started perusing a few other cooking blogs, including those of readers who have commented recently and many from links you all have on your blogrolls, the other day and have found the following recipes I want to try:

from Cook Eat Live Vegetarian: Butternut Squash and Chickpea Crumble w/ Caramelized Onions and other stuff

from Robyn Cooks:  Pizza with Sweet Potatoes, Leeks, and Blue Cheese and Fig and Goat Cheese Bruschetta

from The Saucy Kitchen: Goat cheese ravioli (if I ever get the pasta making attachment for Darth) and Pasta Rustica

from I'll Have What She's Having, French Lentils with Feta

from Coconut & Lime, Salmon Pea Risotto

Anyone got any more links to share?