What kind of a cook are you?

[Anonymous]

I go through phases. Right now I'm trying to get some good indian recipes under my belt. I just finished making 7 dal recipes and am now into Briyani. I'm going to tackle indian bread which I think will be a huge challenge. Totally different from western bread.

I'm a very adventurous cook and am not afraid of complicated recipes with many steps. I do usually use a cookbook. Mainly because I'm often in uncharted territory. I get restless and am always getting into new cuisine. I'm finding Indian very complicated. Much more so than French.

[Anonymous]

I'm a pretty good cook. Most of our every day meals are fairly simple - meat w/seasonings, garden salad, side dish. Since they are so simple I don't need a recipe to make them.

However, I'm finding that I'm getting better at improvising and throwing together marinades, casseroles, veggie and side dishes. I'm also pretty good with fish/seafood.

[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.

Oh and I'm always overcooking meat! Always!

Here's a tip for the meat: Meat keeps cooking even after it's off the heat. So when you *THINK* it's ready, take it off the heat and let it rest. It will continue to cook for a minute or two. Then cut it through the middle to make sure it's fully cooked. If it is, plate it. If not, back in the oven/on the stove.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Sara Moulton and Mario had real cooking shows. Now FN is complete nonsense. Ina Garten is OK.

[Anonymous]

I don't generally follow recipes unless it's my first time making something. My mom taught me to cook but now I am a much better cook than she is. I can cook fancy gourmet meals but generally I cook simple meals since I make dinner for my family every night.

[Anonymous]

A fat one.

[Anonymous]

Slightly above beginner. Have gained some confidence in cooking since my post-college / know-nothing days, but still don't enjoy it and need to follow recipes for all but the most familiar of recipes. I definitely prefer baking, though am no expert at it, but am lab trained so enjoy following exact instructions.