Do You Know How To Cook? Who cooks their own food?

[shigajet 0]

Erm...did a lot of microwave cooking when I was a university student. When I moved out on my own I tried baking as well...and on the very rare occasion I would try to make tacos.

[Marina 0]

oh god no I don't.I'm the worst in it and when I try my kitchen is such a mess.it should be illegal for me to cook LOL!my parents never took the times to show me so I guess its a part of why I don't know how to cook.thank god for giving us microwave lol!

Edited February 28, 2007 by Marina (see edit history)

[zyzzyvette 0]

I'm like...a master chef. Here's the secret for cooking just about anything.
1)Open the box
2)Put the contents in the microwave and close.
3)Cook contents until warm, pull contents out of microwave
4)Yell at the food and jump up and down screaming because you burned your finger.
5)Enjoy(BUT DON'T BURN!)

This is pretty much how my "cooking" goes too... I can make some yummy stuff when I want to, but I usually don't want to, so its toaster oven and microwave for me.

[Misanthrope 0]

I eat, therefore, I cook. Not that I necessarily enjoy this laborious, monotonous, time-consuming activity. Spilling tears over chopped onions isn't my idea of a good time. I'd rather be sitting on my butt, computer or book in tow. In fact, I'd just assume have a feast for a king miraculously appear at my table for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and have some horrible little troll clear the table for me so I can get back to the task of sitting on my butt. The reality is, cooking is simply the best thing to do if one wants to avoid going broke and maintain some semblance of good health. Why, just the other day I was reminded why I must cook, why I need to cook, why I HAVE to cook. In celebration of my mum's birthday, I took her to a health food cafe, where I proceeded to pay outrageous prices for something a monkey could have throw together. Granted, the food was healthy, but seven dollars for a frickin' sandwich? Geeez. The following day I almost (I said...almost) enjoyed throwing together my own sandwich for much less cost, and a nice ale to wash it down with to boot. They wanted $3.50 for one beer. It's not unusual for me to wash down my meal with two beers or a hefty glass of wine. So, we're looking at $14 for one lunch? I don't think so. It's back to that damn kitchen for me. Lesser of two evils and all.....Lately, I've gotten into the habit of what I refer to as "marathon cooking," where I cook up huge batches of soup, lasagna or enchiladas, then bag 'em up and freeze 'em. That way, I only have to slave away in the kitchen one day a week as opposed to seven. Plus, I, not some unknown entity, gets to choose what goes into my food. That's very important for us control freaks! I've perfected a lentil soup recipe that incorporates Tomatoes, Swiss Chard, Zuchinni, Balsamic Vinegar, Carrots, Garlic, Onions, Celery, Parmesan Cheese and a dash of red wine, of course. Once you start eating real, home-cooked meals it's hard to go back that junk food trash. In fact, it's downright disgusting (god I love that word).

[lihuyt 0]

I can cook, I've been making my own dinner for a long time, but I must admit it is the fast home food that gets me. My favourite dinners are Pizza and waffles, and I have my own special way to make them (secret). Overall I love to make food, but I also love to eat resturant food .Sincerely,lihuyt

[Misanthrope 0]

My favourite dinners are Pizza and waffles, and I have my own special way to make them (secret)..

For godsakes man - don't keep it a secret! We want to know your "special" way of preparing these time honored treats. Pizza's a pain in the butt to make from scratch. I know, I've seen it attempted. If you have a shortcut or some other trick of the trade, I for one want to hear it. As for waffles, way to sweet for me. Give me piss and vinegar. The wise animals go for the bitters, they say....

[Matt2 0]

Three words:Two minute noodles.No seriously, we cook at school and we made a 2 course meal (with Chicken in it - and no nobody died that ate it, I know go me lol), while a teacher was yelling at us (how good can you get?) I also cook biscuits and cakes at home (stuff with chocolate in it hehe). Sometimes I cook my main meal but it's usually just pasta and stuff like that, my mum usually cooks our meals and we have them as a family.

Edited March 21, 2007 by Matt2 (see edit history)

[prasanna 0]

Ofcourse, nice idea..about the "cooking forums";yeah, i can cook....although i don't have to cook my meals everyday.Something, I enjoy doing in my leisure...if need be i can make time for it my routine, i wont complaint about that.

[kraizii88z 0]

So your gonna be a chef, huh?

If you really want a good idea of what that's like, i would suggest that you read a great book, Kitchen Confidential, by Anthony Bourdain. It's just a few anecdotes from his years and years of chefdom that i think you might find interesting, if you havent' read it already.

This basically sums it up from Amazon.com:

"Most diners believe that their sublime sliver of seared foie gras, topped with an ethereal buckwheat blini and a drizzle of piquant huckleberry sauce, was created by a culinary artist of the highest order, a sensitive, highly refined executive chef. The truth is more brutal. More likely, writes Anthony Bourdain in Kitchen Confidential, that elegant three-star concoction is the collaborative effort of a team of "wacked-out moral degenerates, dope fiends, refugees, a thuggish assortment of drunks, sneak thieves, sluts, and psychopaths," in all likelihood pierced or tattooed and incapable of uttering a sentence without an expletive or a foreign phrase. Such is the muscular view of the culinary trenches from one who's been groveling in them, with obvious sadomasochistic pleasure, for more than 20 years. "


Yes, i can cook, too. I can cook just about anything, because it's all about knowing the ingredients that go together, and the one's that don't -and i find that cheese and garlic are a great combination in any situation...

If you know a few rules about chopping and basic, basic things, then you too, can become a fine high-class chef like the one and only Bourdain.

Have fun!

[Casino.Royale 0]

I hate cooking! Mainly because I'm horrible at it. I've burnt easy mac before, forgot the cardboard under pizza once, and just a lot of stupid stuff like that. When my parents are gone for a weekend and I have to try cook for myself its horrid. I can't! Anyways, to the point of this topic. How is everyone else at cooking? Pretty good can can good or like me, horrid and can't make anything decent, lol.

[pointblank 0]

I'm not 100% but got the mac n cheese n those stuff on the wrap. My dad is a chef so i learnt a few from him. I could tell you one thing stay in the kitchen and look at your food cook...lol... so that it mite not burn. You can also use a recipie book.By the way whats your favourite dish? In my country it's OIL DOWN

[Misanthrope 0]

Hey Casino - you sound like me when I first started cooking. Honestly, I still don't enjoy it all that much, though I've gotten somewhat good at it out of necessity. I figure, either I cook it myself or I go broke having someone else cook it for me. Not only that, I subject myself to whatever toxic garbage they choose to put in the food. One of the main problems I have with eating out is due mainly to my latter point. I really hate the oil they use in most resturaunts. They're quite fond of "Canola" oil (i.e. Canada Oil), which is actually bad for the heart, even though it's touted as a "healthy" oil. When you're starting out cooking, give yourself all the time in the world to experiment and make mistakes. It will almost take that long to figure it out, unless you're a natural - which I am not. Don't get discouraged when things don't work out the first few or several (hundred) times. The best recipes are developed over countless trial and errors, so be forgiving of yourself. Check out a site called allrecipes.com, and look for the stuff that's been tested out by lots of people and received high ratings. These are usually more fool-proof than cook books, which I've never had any luck with. Get yourself a few cast iron skillets (they'll last a life time), a large stock pot, some good knives, a measuring cup, and have at it. Bon appetit!

[Skyfalling 0]

My father is a cook with his own restaurant so it's only natural that I know how to cook as well. However, I'm still pretty young so I only know how to make very few foods. I'm pretty much a professional with the microwave, but I can make some grilled cheese, variations of egg, french toast, and can work the deep fryer alright. He's planning on teaching me some stuff, I mean, I should know how to provide for myself when the time comes for me to leave. So I guess I'm pretty bad at cooking, I need to learn how to make different types of food and not breakfast

[CinnamorollTK 0]

I've known how to cook since I was young. I love to invent recipes more than to cook. (I prefer easy vegetarian microwaveable foods.

[succeedatall 0]

I was wondering, since I just started taking a 6 month cooking course diploma thing. Yeah, Im gonna be a chef. I mainly decided to take those clases because all I can make is a cereal and my mom usually doesnt have time to make all the meals per day. So Im gonna do my best at it. If there are many people who do know, maybe we can open up a space for cooking in this forums, with recipes and tips. etc..

I cook for me and my wife.both from recipes and also from scratch(own recipes).I've cooked for several years and a few years ago i was working for room and board for an elderly lady who had other older people that she cooked for we would make everything from scratch.all kinds of soups and cakes,pies,cookies,homemade stuffing.you name it we made it.