Practice Makes Progress

A yoga teacher introduced me to the saying “Practice Makes Progress” which I wholeheartedly embrace - much better than that other saying “Practice Makes Perfect”.

I’ve been making chow mein at home probably since I cooked for my kids, so that would be 30 years or so. If I were in Hawaii, I would just buy takeout, but on the mainland I find I have to make my own, given the cost of takeout and the fact that it’s more convenient to make my own than drive long distances.

Recently when a family member enjoyed my chow mein and requested I send her the recipe, I initially sent a representative recipe and video that I found online and texted how I modified to make it my own.

It was going to be a lot of work to document from scratch and I was feeling lazy. Besides, there’s such good cooking content online and on YouTube.

However, she wanted to make it “exactly” like mine and asked again that I write down my version.

Even when I cook my version, it varies based on my ingredients and real-time adjustments.

Still I sent a photo of the specialty ingredients as well as the type of noodles that I use.

J. mentioned that the Chinese BBQ pork I use is key. I would not have stressed that because his daughter said she would use chicken initially. And I thought chicken chow mein is fine but it would be a good idea to marinate the chicken. Anyway, I sent a photo of the BBQ pork.

I sent step by step videos too!

Below is an image of our tray of cooked chow mein ready to eat, with the mushrooms separated to the side. Some people don’t like mushrooms; I think they overthink what mushrooms are.

If J’a daughter does buy all the specialty ingredients, she’ll have enough left of those ingredients to make the chow mein (and other dishes too!) many more times. And will eventually hone in on her own version.