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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.