| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 12/21/2005 1:35:38 AM | Some of these replies are pretty good,
I cant recall a time when i did'nt want to cook! haha
I should have been italian because i believe "a guys gotta eat"
Should have known im differant when id rather watch the food network than a football game.
I grew up in a house where my family liked to entertain,Saw real young how people were happy when they ate great food. Knew right there that was for me.
I was lucky to have a dad who is great on the barbq too and does it year round, up here in Canada it takes some skill to grille a great steak outside at -20 ! How you like yours done?
Having an interest in cooking really helps.If im wanting something i figure out how to make it or find the recipie.
I think the key is to not be afraid go out and try new things, hell if you screw it up who cares try it again.Dont be trying any new dishs on your friends though,You be the test mule than lay it on em if it works.
Than stand back & enjoy the smiles  | |
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| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 12/21/2005 6:23:43 AM | I have this theory that people who don't enjoy and savour their food are no good in bed. As for the man who eats quickly.....
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| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 12/21/2005 10:43:02 AM | | mspicky/smith - I kinda agree with you both. I guess it is experimenting but you really have to know your way around the kitchen to make something good. Maybe the term should be GOOD experimenting because I can experiment too but the results are very questionable. My goal is to be able to put a number of things on the table without always going to a recipe, although I have a passion for looking at recipes in magazines. When it gets to be too many ingredients or too complicated I tend to turn the page and move on. Any suggestions to make me a better cook, WELCOME. | |
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| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 12/21/2005 7:54:14 PM | >>Don't be jealous because I'm a good experimenter.
Oh right. That's it. You've seen through me. | |
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| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 12/21/2005 8:01:19 PM | I wish there was some way to receive posts here by email, like you can on Yahoo groups. Then you could block certain people.
Or how about something like the "ignore" option they have on AOL messageboards? | |
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| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 12/21/2005 8:27:23 PM | | I often cook without recipes. Sometimes when I eat out I recreate the recipe, or how it would be made, in my head. Within a week or so I make the recipe. I do pretty well with that. The more you cook like that, the better you get. | |
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| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 12/21/2005 8:42:20 PM | OK, time to get this thread back on the topic. Can we do that please?
I learned to cook when I was only 10 or so. My mum told me that I would never find a good woman if I didn't know how to cook so she got me started. Mum...I was 10...I thought girls were yucky! Anyway, I liked baking and it was my job to make a cake on Sundays so we had some dessert for the next week (I made BIG cakes). As I got older I started playing about with omelettes and pancakes. Eventually, by 13, my mum was teaching me to make dinners and suppers on a regular basis. Today I have a pretty decently large repertoire of classic and modern recipes anchored in my noggin. The only thing I can't make well is Yorkshire pudding. I have done everything mum told me to do but it rarely works out the way she does it. I like seafood a lot...A LOT! (I lived in Nova Scotia when I was young...lobster and halibut were poor man's food!). I like some pasta but not all. I am always open to a new idea in the kitchen and I love to experiment a little with an established recipe. The only part of cooking I don't relish (no pun intended...) is the clean-up. Thank God for dishwashers, eh? Thanks mum... | |
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| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 12/21/2005 8:44:22 PM | | By the way, the first sentence in my post wasn't a comment aimed at you, Dallasguy99...it was meant for the previous posts. | |
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| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 12/21/2005 9:08:00 PM | ^^and isn't *THAT* an off topic post?
Meant for one person only and not related to the thread subject?
Edit: couldn't email this to him privately, because he blocks emails from males. So I posted it publicly. Only way to tell him. Sorry. | |
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Suther
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Joined: 5/20/2005
Msg: 86 | |
| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 12/24/2005 11:49:45 AM | Hmmm
My mother motivated me to learn how to cook.. the woman destroys food. Her idea of med-rare steak is well done  (no wonder I eat it blue now) | |
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| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 12/26/2005 11:35:05 PM | | parents meat potatoes vegeies the school with a france chef he was cool and talented | |
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*Tee*
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Joined: 9/4/2005
Msg: 88 | |
| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 12/27/2005 11:59:14 PM | I'm italian....cooking to us is not just about food, but its the gathering of friends and family that makes us so passionate about it....
Suther, you can cook in my kitchen anytime... | |
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| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 12/29/2005 6:37:35 PM | | I came from a well to do family. They were high class, eccentric, egotistical, racist and over-bearing. After my Dad retired as The Director of Engeering to Miller High Life Brewering Company, for a hobby he bought a cattle ranch. He raised pigs for a period of time but they proved to be not very profitable for him. My mother was a teacher of many different homemaking courses. She taught out of Congress School and out of her home. Her expertise dealt in canning, cake decorating, weight watchers gourmet meals, baking, sewing, knitting, crocheting, and quilting. As a child growing up I was incorporated into all facets of these general trades. "Cleanliness was next to Godliness", was my mothers motto. She was high strung, very petite, demanding and ruled with an iron fist. She used to check her cleaning techniques with a white glove. I learned many things at a very young age and continued to learn through my teens. My Dad used to take to me to his office every Saturday, were I was treated like a king. I gained much knowledge in the corporate sector of how to do things and how not to do things. I placed myself in the work force at an early age of 15 with a false birth certificate to gain my work permit, thus entering the "salt mines". Cooking, cleaning, maintenance, grounds work and carpentry were all instilled second nature abilities from my child hood years. I started my first cooking job at a 24 hour restaurant called Sambos. I worked all three shifts, learning breakfast, dinner and supper, and of-course the bar rush, a mixture of every unimanginable concocktion that people could dream up while being intoxicated. Sambos was sued and had to closer their doors because of their name. I gained much insight at this place of employment. My next place of employment is a very memmorable and cherished experience. I went to work for Di Stephano, Cecilian. He made me his General Manager while he went on a retreat, so to speak. During his abscence, he leased out his restaurant to a certain Aurthar Dowling. Art was a God fearing man, he would read his Bible daily at a main table in the restaurant for everyone to see. He changed the name of the restaurant to Arturo's American and Italian Restaurant. This was in conflict with the lease, since he was only leasing the restaurant and the name could not be changed.Since I was a witnessed signature on the lease and the original General Manager I had an obligation to inform Mr. Di Stephano that his restaurant was no longer in his or my control., because I was fired and Art hired a new General manager. To cut to the chase, Art ended up torching the restaurant and was charged with extortion and a***n. John did gain his restaurant back only to open Di Stephanos Pizza Palace In Milwaukee, WI. John taught me all of his cecilian recipes, slow home cooked italian, the simmering, sauteing, time control, proper spices, wines and the best mouth watering dough that knowledge can buy.I Went to Bombay Bicycle Club, a nation wide restaurant chain. I became Assistant Chef in about two months time. Learned a faster paced more economical way of cooking, still home cooking, but at a much faster pace. Family issues arose so I move to Michigan, met my maternal mother and then went to work for my first Corporate Executive Chef. His name was John, he was African American. He taught me gourmet cajun pan fry cooking. He was a retired Cruise Liner Chef, working part time at Indian Run Golf Club in Portage. He was in his 70's when he taught me patience and the ability to do over 20 different projects at one time, a very versatile man of ingenious stature. My next learning how to cook experience came from Holiday In in Bemidji, MN. To get into the kitchen every morning, I had to unlock 27 different doors, cabinets, coolers and frezers. This took roughly half an hour just to turn on my first oven. Breakfast, the best and most important meal of the day, they say. I learned how to cook eggs every which way but loose, no, even loose. Eggs, eggs, eggs and then more eggs. You can do many different things with eggs, believe me, I know this to be true. Well, I kinda of got sick of eggs after awhile and moved on to some more knowledgable and gainful insights of cooking. I went to Spirit Lake Iowa(Arnolds Park). Was placed incharge of a restaurant and theatre called Blue Water Cabaret. We also served food on a train, called The Spirit of Iowa. This was my show, I did it all. Ran the restaurant, the bar, the theatre, hotel, bookings, hiring, firing, training, and banking. I worked an average of 110 hours per week. The knowledge that was gained during this seasonal employment was phenominal. I made more money than I knew what to do with. This was a period of self taught , past experience put into use, to come up with new dishes and new ways of cooking. I do have formal schooling for various aspects of the kitchen concerning saftey, hygiene, temperature control, economics, and management. I pride myself in being the best that I can be and serving the best posible and safe food to everyone and anyone who would eat my well prepared meals. I do have more training and experiences, but this should give you a fair idea as to were I learned how to cook. | |
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| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 12/30/2005 7:34:46 AM | I grew up with two younger sisters that never really claimed a nack for cooking. I guess its the same as having a green thrumb or being a good welder or mechanic some have it some dont.. My mom taught me in the kitchen over an old wood cookstove with an electric 2k element that was put into the old stove some great food came out of it still does i own it now lol. She grew up back in ft dodge iowa and later came out here. I think when meeting my dad why they got married lol and still are he would go hungry. I hope if i ever find the right gal that wont be the paste on the tooth brush holding a marriage together.. me being a smart arse.. And at age 13 i learned how to cook in the scouts i would have died if i didnt learn how plust that cooking badge was a must for eagle scout lol.. I did meet a lot of people and some really good cooks out there. Not just in a dining all during scout camp some traveled from other states. Years later i got into mainline pipeline and some guys would cook barbeques off the back of there rigs. Guys from texas,wyoming,mississippi. Some things i couldnt stand or didnt want to eat. I guess holding out for the right girl. Why i wait lol. Hot water and coooking is the main issue not a lot of women are into one or the other. I guess why some put cooking on the profile as an interest.
bobby | |
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| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 12/30/2005 9:19:39 AM | The first thing I made was acake at my ants house, then some cookies. Later bread.
Then I took a home meck class where we made different things. I even learned how to make sweet water taffy. Then I moved in with my grandparents and I watched them cook. Then I moved out on my own and just took off doing it. I don't really look at the books. I have lots of them that I relate to if someone needs to know just how to make something. But I am one of them people that messures nothing, just add to taste, unles its something I have made a lot of. I guess i taught my self a lot. Then once I met my old man his family taught me about canning, and freezing food. So that just added to it I guess. After all these years cooking is like breathing just something people do. | |
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| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 2/14/2007 8:17:05 AM | My mother liked cake and before I could even read she showed me how on the back of a cake box to match up the 1/3 cup oil symbol with the 1/3 cup measuring cup. Ditto with the water and eggs. I always found this fun.
So later I learned/figured out that when she is on the phone I could hoist myself up on the counter top, then stand up on the counter I could open the cupboard and barely reach a box of cake mix. Then I would bring it down and quietly start the process while she was gabbing away on the phone.
... and once the process is started, its not like you can stop it. Ironically I never even cared about eating the cake, I just like making them and being active and having something constructive to do besides play with my tonka trucks and fisher price airport set.
Later she set me to playing with bread dough rather than playdoh. | |
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| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 2/14/2007 9:04:45 AM | | I started at an early age. I've always loved to eat and spent a lot of time watching both parents in the kitchen. Since my father was a much better cook than my mother (sorry Mom!) and they split most of the cooking duties, I also learned early that cooking was not "women's work". After the divorce, my mother started letting me experiment when I was 10-11 and when I didn't poison anyone, she let me make dinner 2-4 times a week for the family as a way of helping out. I still love spending time in the kitchen, especially when I get to show off for that special someone. I look at recipes strictly as starting points, and I think creativity is my greatest asset. No one has died yet, so I guess I'm doing something right! | |
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| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 2/14/2007 9:13:21 AM | | By watching my Mom. Over the years I have experiment with various types of cuisine. I have a few favorites, but always willing to try something new. | |
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Kame
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Joined: 2/5/2007
Msg: 95 | |
| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 2/14/2007 9:27:21 AM | | My first cake I made I think was an Angel Food cake when I took the pan off the whole thing caved in ...Im not the greatest cook sense my kids are gone its pretty much Healthy Choice/Smart One meals. I used to make a lot of casserole's when my kids were home though...but I think Iv forgotten how to cook now. | |
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Kame
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Joined: 2/5/2007
Msg: 96 | |
| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 2/14/2007 9:31:38 AM | | Opps forgot to add the point of this thread.... I pretty much taught myself to cook | |
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| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 2/14/2007 11:51:27 AM | [but the sauce came out of a can. Hunt's is as good as anybody's in terms of bang per buck. ]
hunts spaghetti sauce???...EEWWWW!!!! | |
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| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 2/14/2007 11:51:49 AM | | I learned how to cook from a few different places, my grandmother as a child showed me the basics and I still use some of her recipes today, but I think the majority of my knowledge came from being a line cook at some of the nicer restaurants around my area for 4.5 years. I love to cook but I don't think that I could ever return to that profession lol. | |
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| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 2/14/2007 12:54:27 PM | | I started cooking seriously when four of my friends and I moved into a house together. We were supposed to have shared the cooking duties but, there were only two of us that really put any effort into it. Started out being hamburgers or grilled cheese or the like. Then I started adding different ingredients to see how it tasted. I remember trying to make rack of lamb once and burning it to a crisp. I think I'd rather cook on the grill instead of inside on the stove, but I don't always. If I have a problem or need some help I usually call my sister. she's a hell of a cook. | |
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| How did you learn to cook?
Posted: 2/14/2007 1:11:14 PM | I got tired of popcorn and tuna and paying through the nose for a dinner out. I decided if a restaurant could make it, so could I.
I bought a cookbook, read it, experimented, then bought several more and experimented for a year. At the end of the year I could cook anything I got a recipe for. Only one or two of the experiments were inedible, and most were good even when I screwed them up.
It was the same with baking. I was tired of crappy bread. Not a decent loaf within twenty miles. I decided to learn how to bake bread, bought "Beard on Bread", educated myself, and *poof* I've been making bread for 35 years. The stores have bakeries now, and some turn out ok stuff, but mine is better and one third the price, so I keep doing it. Mine also has none of the stuff I can't pronounce in it.
You can learn anything from a book. | |
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