Alright folks, buckle up. I finally got around to trying out that Dr Shepherd thing everyone’s whispering about. Kept seeing the name pop up, sounded like some mystical kitchen wizardry, and honestly? I was getting tired of my usual dinner disasters. Decided to give it a real shot yesterday.
Step 1: Finding the Actual Starting Point
My first move? Total mess. Grabbed my phone, went digging online – not looking for anything specific, just clues. Most stuff was buried under flashy ads or weird jargon. Took maybe twenty minutes of scrolling past nonsense before I found a simple list that looked legit beginner-level. Felt like I’d struck gold just finding Step 1.
Step 2: Digging Through the Fridge & Pantry
Looked at this fresh ingredient list Step 1 laid out. Seriously basic stuff:
- Some veggies – carrots, onions, stuff that doesn’t spoil overnight
- Protein – had some chicken thighs in the freezer, thawed ’em out
- Sauces & spices – soy sauce, garlic powder, basic things
Went through my cabinets. Found most stuff, except I was totally out of olive oil. Run to the store? Nah. Used vegetable oil instead. Fingers crossed it wouldn’t ruin everything.
Step 3: Actually Cutting Things Up Without Losing a Finger
Step 3 talked about knife skills. Mine? Kinda scary. Tried to keep chunks roughly the same size like it said. The onion made me tear up like I was watching a sad movie. Chicken was slippery, felt like wrestling an eel. Took way longer than any cooking show makes it look. Big win: no emergency room trip!
Step 4: The Hot Pan Fiasco
Got the pan hot like Step 4 yelled about. Dropped the chicken in. That sizzle scared the heck outta me! Oil spitting like angry little raindrops. Used tongs to flip ’em, trying not to burn my arms. Chicken turned this nice golden brown after a few minutes. Smelled actually… good?
Step 5: Veggie Chaos & Stirring Madness
Dumped the veggies in with the browned chicken. Constant stirring like Step 5 demanded. Felt like my arm was gonna fall off! Carrots took forever to soften. Threw in the sauce mix (soy sauce, water, bit of sugar – improvising like Step 1 said it was okay!) right at the end. Kept it bubbling and stirring until it thickened up. Looked kinda soupy at first, but then it pulled together.
The Final Shove Onto a Plate
Didn’t bother making fancy rice like some steps suggested. Just plopped it straight onto a plate. Honestly? It looked kinda messy. Didn’t exactly scream “masterpiece.” But the smell? Actually pulled my partner into the kitchen asking “What is that?”
Eating the Darn Thing
Took the first bite expecting mediocrity. Blown away. Seriously tasty! Savory, the chicken wasn’t dry (a miracle!), veggies had a nice crunch. Partner inhaled it. We both went back for seconds. Clean plates all around.
Final thoughts? Dr Shepherd isn’t magic, but it’s a solid map. Shows you the path through the cooking jungle step-by-step. My veggies weren’t perfect, I subbed oil, and my plating was trash. But it worked. Felt doable, even for someone who usually sets off the smoke alarm. Definitely trying Step 6 next weekend!
