Are you a good cook?
Do you consider yourself a good home chef?
Comments
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Definitely - cooking is my passion! I learned to cook from my mother and grandmother... old southern, half French family.
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I love great food and cooking is the way to get it! Uh, when you have kids and a husband ... LOL
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Hey @Ruth Reyes-Loiacano , can we make quizzes?
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How I got to be an unusual cook:
I am a good cook and practiced cooking all kinds of cuisines, but changed when I started cooking to reduce my husband's cholesterol level. Now of course, after too many years, I know that the low-fat, no egg diet has serious dietary flaws. (I still have the fancy cookbooks though.)
I also started cooking wild game that most people will not touch, except for TGN folks like you.
Desserts, sweet breads, bread stuffing and gravy are not being made because I would have to eat them by myself. My husband doesn't eat this stuff and both the work and calorie intake are not good if it's just for me.
Now I am trying to keep the gluten, sugar and nightshades down because of my own health quirks. I am adding new herbs, mushrooms and vegetables in larger quantities.
So it is always a problem cooking for visitors as I have lost proficiency on some things. Common things like potato salad have not been made in a long time. I don't make breaded, fried foods, although my air fryer and outdoor grill can provide similar things. Most visitors have never deviated from foods they had as a child, most of which are not healthy.
I will say that my food tastes good to me and it is healthy. Whether I am a good cook is a matter of opinion.
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It is a matter of opinion!
I know of some people who love their mother's cooking cause that is what they are used to, but for someone else, mom's meals might not be up to par. So it all depends on where the compliment is coming from.
One of the best compliments I have ever received was very simple. "You make very good soup." The gentleman in question was referring to my clam chowder, which I have always thought was pretty good. But because he was fairly well known in the food world and had eaten at some of the most expensive restaurants in the world, his compliment meant more to me than some others that have said things like, "That's the best ...... I have ever eaten" or "You are the best cook".
I love to experiment, so sometimes it turns out exceptional and other times not so well. Had one of those recently. The dish was eaten but it was suggested that I not make it again. Thankfully, company was not involved with that experiment. I really like to try new wild recipes. Very excited about the new recipes to try in Wild Remedies.
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As @shllnzl commented, it can be relative, especially with today's definition of a good cook. Scratch/homemade has a new meaning...doing a cake or macaroni & cheese from a box, or soup from a can. There are dietary restrictions than can also change the definition of a good cook. It is all relative.
My definition of a good cook is fully opposite of the "box" mentality. It is being able to utilize natural (box store unprocessed) foods, spices & herbs to create a variety of colorful & tasty foods. Another aspect is being able to prepare a colorful, tasty meal from practically nothing (creating your own recipes) and being able to "stretch" foods to make it last longer. Frugal cooking (which certainly can include foraging) is another trait. A fourth aspect is being able to recreate a copycat version of something that tastes similar or better than the store version. I believe that a good cook can cook for one or a crowd of 20 or more. If they can do this on short notice...even better. A good cook can taste a recipe by reading, go by feel of a dough, smell a spice & know if it "fits." They can substitute ingredients when needed and can know what can be skipped with no ill effects. A good cook will keep a full pantry as much as possible, but can do with little if needed. They can troubleshoot.
My standards are high! Lol My kids are each learning all of these things. They start early. 😉
I can do the above, which helps us to avoid many synthetic/artificial ingredients. I also cook a variety of ethnic foods from around the world, but of course, specialize in foods from our ethnic background. I am learning more about herbs, spices, and wild edibles, so that adds to my growing repertoire.
So yes, I consider myself a good cook, and can confidently say that my family would heartily back that up. This Mennonite girl can cook!
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Like @shllnzl we have been through many varieties of cooking. I also changed the way I cook to help my husband with his diabetes. We have been on a journey through so many different types of cooking. All of which have one thing in common and that's cooking from scratch.
Originally I learned to cook from scratch to cut out all the chemicals, but then it was to cut out the added sugar, and then it was to learn to cook gluten free, and then it was to cook mostly plant based with a small amount of meat a couple times a week. I took a free Rouxbe cooking class where I learned a lot about plant based cooking.
One thing we can all attest to is that we feel better and we don't have all of the aches and pains anymore (even my daughters were having them and they were way to young for it to be called age related). Another thing we've all noticed is that when we do eat fast food or at someones house who cooks from packages with all the chemicals is that we feel sick to our stomachs afterwards, bloated, and it just doesn't taste as good as we remember. Most times it's way too salty and/or too sweet.
Like @LaurieLovesLearning I taught both of my daughters to cook from scratch. One was a lot more interested than the other but they both learned. We spent every summer for years having cooking and cleaning lessons.
I thought it would be hard having people over for dinner as well but we have found some favorites from each style of cooking that we really like. I usually make one of those dishes when we have friends over and they rarely say they felt like they were missing something even to my kids later. The thing they'd be missing most is the meat b/c if I cook meat it's mostly as a condiment as they say - for flavoring. So, Wedding Soup (with some ground beef instead of meat balls), Veggie Chili (or with some ground beef added), Curries, Bean Burritos, etc.
Even though my husband is a meat eater and LOVES it, not eating so much has really helped his diabetes. I'd read several places that excess protein turns to glucose in your body. He's gotten used to it now since we've been eating this way for several years. But he does like to go to Publix to pick something up for me so he can buy chicken wings.
There is a farmer's market about 45 minutes from us that we love to go to every once in a while. I'm missing not being able to go right now! They have an entire wall of spices! Normal spices and spices from every country you can think of. I love experimenting with them!
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Seems like I am a good cook based on the above descriptions! Now if I could only convince my leery in-laws.
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I love to cook! I’m a from scratch cook and have been before it became fashionable, lol!
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All "from scratch for me".... nothing from a can or a box (except tomatoes sometimes....maybe pasta... or salt...but I like to make my own of each). I like to break down whole animals (that I harvest)… I have a grain mill and a sausage grinder... a freeze full of stocks and broths... ferment most EVERYTHING.... as much as possible from the garden, woods, rivers and ocean as possible!
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I have been told I am a good cook, by everyone who has tried my cooking, so I guess I am!! I don't often follow recipes, instead I like to adapt and change depending on what's in the garden or what we have on hand, or what I feel will taste good :) This can be a problem when someone asks for the recipe for something I have cooked, as I never make it the same twice, and also don't always measure ingredients.
My youngest son has followed in my footsteps and loves cooking too, for which his partner is very grateful. He is working from home at the moment, due to our lockdown, but the office are having a daily competition on what they have cooked for dinner - so far he is winning :D
Adding love to your cooking is a good way to make it taste good too :)
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I believe that I am. I cook mostly from scratch, and like the traditional foods that I grew up with. I try to limit salt these days, but I'm all about healthy fats and butter, cream, and even limited amounts of sugar.
I see food as something that should be enjoyed, be full of nutrients, smell delicious, and be presented nicely. I think God intends us to eat well, and with appreciation!
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I can echo many comments that are already posted. So many dietary changes over my life. My mother was a meat and potatoes cook, canned soup, lunch meat, boxed cereal. Not me! Still meat but all the others are gone. Now my family gets fresh whenever possible, a large variety of tastes and colors. Yup, I think I’m a good cook and definitely not like my mother.
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yes
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I do most of my cooking from scratch. We eat basic foods, and several of our favorite recipes have been either by accident, desperation or just what we like to call concoctions, where I just throw a few things that look or sound interesting in the pot or pan. One of our favorite ways to cook salmon came about because I was elected at the last second to fix salmon for a family member's wedding, just as everyone else headed out the door with a casual..."Oh, while your making the wedding cake...there's some salmon in the sink. Can you fix that and bring with you?" Since the Bride's other doesn't cook much there was very little to work with. I had been shopping earlier for my own house. I cut the salmon into serving size pieces and dropped in a baking pan. Poured some ranch dressing on top, sprinkled with parmesan and paprika and baked. The new Father in law liked it so much he wouldn't let anyone else have any and he took what was left home with him. l guess he liked it. 😁
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I cook so differently than I did when I was young. Food sensitivities have taken many of my signature dishes away. I loved baking most, I think. I baked bread and cookies, homemade pizza and apple pie. Now we don’t eat wheat. I have made the pie with oat flour crust. It works, but its not the same.
I don’t feel like I am as good a cook anymore. I am easily distracted, more chaotic, less energy.
I have always been a recipe follower. I can improvise on recipes, but am not someone who can just know what spices would be good in a dish, etc. My daughter can do that, it’s amazing to me.
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I guess I am a good cook. I do most of the cooking for our family of six on the day to day base and nearly all is from scratch.
My 13year old daughter demands to have my spaghetti Bolognese for her birthday.
I try different vegetables and the rule is everyone at least has to try and taste what is on the table. Most of the times they will enjoy it.
I used to make all of our bread, pizza, sourdough. Like @judsoncarroll4 I love to ferment things.
We have kids cooking Saturday whenever possible. One of the kids choose what to have for lunch or dinner., gets to buy it if we do not have all ingredients, slice, dice, prepare and cook according to their skills and do the cleaning afterwards.
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I am a good cook, just not a very creative one. My oldest daughter can create meals with just about anything. I love to make homemade noodles (I just don't do it often because of time constraints).
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I believe I'm fairly handy on the cooking front. Now I have more time on my hands(retired) I love to experiment and love having friends and family around to laugh, talk and eat ( although the C virus has put a stop to that atm!) I get a kick out of cooking fresh produce from the garden and combining flavours. We have moved to a more plant based diet these days and very much enjoying that. Loving my herbs for flavour combos and using for medicine etc.
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I have often been complimented on my cooking skills, from family to the kids' friends. I have never been a recipe follower, I will read a couple recipes if I am looking to try something different, and then improvise. No dish ever comes out quite the same every time, but it's usually good.
The greatest challenge for me has come in adjusting to being empty nesters after years of cooking for a crowd. I also do a great deal more from scratch cooking than I did when I was much younger.
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Yup..
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@Lisa K If they worked and got eaten with satisfaction, I'd say that is a pass! 👏
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Yes? I think so and have been told but hard to say for sure. I just wish I would have found it sooner than I did as I think I would be better than I am and know more.
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@Ruth Reyes-Loiacano Yes I consider myself a good cook. I have even been complimented on my food tasting better than some of the food made by aspiring chefs.
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In the immortal words of Justin Wilson (my hero), "I may not be no chef, no... but I am a DAMN GOOD COOK, I guarantee! Whoo boy!!"
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My family tells me I'm a good cook. But, I think (more than that) I am an expert at using left-overs.
I agree with @judsoncarroll4 about Justin Wilson ... Onion!
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"Monsieur Onion, I cannot cook without him, no"
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The first thing I learned to bake was bread and since Thanksgiving I returned to my roots and started baking bread, below is the picture of bread I baked last night using Melissa Norris' Master Dough -
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I am a from scratch cook and I love to tweak recipes. One of my friends added a half cup of butter and way more sugar than necessary to her whole wheat rolls. Everyone loves those rolls. I tweaked the recipe and the sugar is now nominal and there is no butter. I know the Pioneers used salt, yeast, water and a very small amount of sugar. Her recipe wreaked havoc on her husband's health. He had diabetes and heart problems.
About nine years ago i changed my eating habits and for a long time I ate more raw vegetables. I always have frozen strawberries and blueberries in the freezer. I have frozen peaches bananas, and pears too.
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I'm a very good cook........and yet somehow last nights chili I made is lacking....never before happened...Now I have to figure out what I failed to do, how to get it where it always is and if all else fails...smother it with cheese and top that off with Texas sheet cake...the same recipe I posted about 3 weeks or so ago and I made it a few days later...one of the best I've ever eaten, my work or otherwise..
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