What kind of a cook are you?

[Anonymous]

Like some PPs, I'm more of a baker. I never know when the meat is done, but my chocolate chip cookies are to die for!

[Anonymous]

Op here. I'm enjoying all the answers!

I like to cook, but I liked it a lot more before the kids came around and I wasn't interrupted all the time and I didn't have to omit all the spice to make things palatable for young tongues. Oh to have all the time in the world again.

I cook from recipes sometimes (but notoriously change things so my dh laughs and asks me why I bother) but I can cook by touch/feel/memory too. I like using a crockpot when I can. I like healthy foods and try to avoid cream of something soups and envelopes of dried whatever, but can also appreciate the convenience of Trader Joe's frozen mandarin chicken on busy nights. I learned some from my mom, but mostly from trial and error ever since I graduated college.

I like to bake but with healthy ingredients so they aren't universally liked, especially by my in laws.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I'm enjoying all the answers!

I like to cook, but I liked it a lot more before the kids came around and I wasn't interrupted all the time and I didn't have to omit all the spice to make things palatable for young tongues. Oh to have all the time in the world again.

I cook from recipes sometimes (but notoriously change things so my dh laughs and asks me why I bother) but I can cook by touch/feel/memory too. I like using a crockpot when I can. I like healthy foods and try to avoid cream of something soups and envelopes of dried whatever, but can also appreciate the convenience of Trader Joe's frozen mandarin chicken on busy nights. I learned some from my mom, but mostly from trial and error ever since I graduated college.

I like to bake but with healthy ingredients so they aren't universally liked, especially by my in laws.

Oh and I'm always overcooking meat! Always!

[Anonymous]

You need a meat thermometer! I got a thermapen for Christmas and I've used it so much. It's especially great now I'm pregnant so I can make sure meat is cooked through without totally overcoming it.

[Anonymous]

I taught myself to cook. Now I cook everything from scratch but always with a recipe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm something well above semi-homemade, but a bit below gourmet. We use lots of fresh and sometimes high-end ingredients. Grate our own Parm, fresh herbs, that sort of thing. But we don't make our own sausage or smoke our own meat or anything. My dad was that kind of gourmet chef, but cooking is truly his passion in life above all else. I'm more of a dilettante who likes good food and who has a husband who appreciates same. (He's the same kind of cook, btw. Love a man who cooks!) I usually follow recipes except for things like sauces and soups that I know well and are easy to tinker with. I specialize in baking, sometimes quite complicated things.

Same here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need a meat thermometer! I got a thermapen for Christmas and I've used it so much. It's especially great now I'm pregnant so I can make sure meat is cooked through without totally overcoming it.

I have several and I feel like none work! I've had issues with Alton Brown's turkey recipe because of them. Haven't sucked up for super expensive ones yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I'm enjoying all the answers!

I like to cook, but I liked it a lot more before the kids came around and I wasn't interrupted all the time and I didn't have to omit all the spice to make things palatable for young tongues. Oh to have all the time in the world again.

I cook from recipes sometimes (but notoriously change things so my dh laughs and asks me why I bother) but I can cook by touch/feel/memory too. I like using a crockpot when I can. I like healthy foods and try to avoid cream of something soups and envelopes of dried whatever, but can also appreciate the convenience of Trader Joe's frozen mandarin chicken on busy nights. I learned some from my mom, but mostly from trial and error ever since I graduated college.

I like to bake but with healthy ingredients so they aren't universally liked, especially by my in laws.

You don't necessarily need to skimp on the spices. Some kids enjoy the flavor and even a little heat.

[Anonymous]

We just use the cheapie OXO instant read thermometer and it works fine. Never cook meat without a thermometer!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I'm enjoying all the answers!

I like to cook, but I liked it a lot more before the kids came around and I wasn't interrupted all the time and I didn't have to omit all the spice to make things palatable for young tongues. Oh to have all the time in the world again.

I cook from recipes sometimes (but notoriously change things so my dh laughs and asks me why I bother) but I can cook by touch/feel/memory too. I like using a crockpot when I can. I like healthy foods and try to avoid cream of something soups and envelopes of dried whatever, but can also appreciate the convenience of Trader Joe's frozen mandarin chicken on busy nights. I learned some from my mom, but mostly from trial and error ever since I graduated college.

I like to bake but with healthy ingredients so they aren't universally liked, especially by my in laws.

You don't necessarily need to skimp on the spices. Some kids enjoy the flavor and even a little heat.

I use plenty of cumin, mild paprika and curry, dill, things like that--but neither of my kids like heat, they're quite dramatic about it in fact.
I hope their taste buds evolve!

[Anonymous]

I'm an awful baker because I prefer to just wing it and go by how it should look/taste. I can never tell anyone exactly how I make something because I just know when it looks like "enough" of an ingredient and never measure. I am better than semi homemade but not gourmet. Somewhere in the Ina Garten arena maybe- good food made with good ingredients but not necessarily fancy. I can look into pantry and fridge and make something up based on what I have on hand and it usually comes out tasting good. I used to like to watch cooking shows so flavors and techniques come easy to me (i.e. I don't necessarily need a timer and can go by how something looks/smells to know if it's done).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an awful baker because I prefer to just wing it and go by how it should look/taste. I can never tell anyone exactly how I make something because I just know when it looks like "enough" of an ingredient and never measure. I am better than semi homemade but not gourmet. Somewhere in the Ina Garten arena maybe- good food made with good ingredients but not necessarily fancy. I can look into pantry and fridge and make something up based on what I have on hand and it usually comes out tasting good. I used to like to watch cooking shows so flavors and techniques come easy to me (i.e. I don't necessarily need a timer and can go by how something looks/smells to know if it's done).

I used to love watching cooking shows on Food Network and I learned a lot. They have really changed, though. I don't watch anymore. I miss it.

[Anonymous]

I am thankful for YouTube. Ive progressed to being able to cook a decent meal for my family everyday, thanks to the Internet. I love to cook from scratch, aka fresh vegetables, whole spices etc and detest processed food. It quite a bit of work everyday but worth it considering the health benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an awful baker because I prefer to just wing it and go by how it should look/taste. I can never tell anyone exactly how I make something because I just know when it looks like "enough" of an ingredient and never measure. I am better than semi homemade but not gourmet. Somewhere in the Ina Garten arena maybe- good food made with good ingredients but not necessarily fancy. I can look into pantry and fridge and make something up based on what I have on hand and it usually comes out tasting good. I used to like to watch cooking shows so flavors and techniques come easy to me (i.e. I don't necessarily need a timer and can go by how something looks/smells to know if it's done).

I used to love watching cooking shows on Food Network and I learned a lot. They have really changed, though. I don't watch anymore. I miss it.

+1. Now it's all stupid Cupcake Wars and whatnot. I loved the days of Tyler Florence, Michael Chiarello, early Barefoot Contessa, and Giada's first show, Everyday Italian (before she started practically licking the camera all the time). I learned so much.

[Anonymous]

The Food Network moved all their interesting shows to the Cooking Channel. We have to pay extra if we want this, so we don't watch any food TV now.

I am a pretty decent cook. I have a roomful of cookbooks and love trying out new recipes. I never so much as lifted a spoon in my parents home. Everything is self taught after coming to America as a graduate student.
Baking is not my thing though.