Does anyone else here enjoy cooking?

[Alexander Salkin]

I went most of my life being shooed out of kitchens or simply not knowing how to anything more complicated than stew. Even then, I just couldn't figure out flavor profiles.

When I watched my then wife-to-be expand from baking to making dinners, however, I was happy to help with the prep work and I started to understand the nuances of spices, cooking methodology, and how to modify recipes. I've really come to enjoy cooking for us in the last several years as a result!

Although I'm a lousy spectator for cooking shows, the actual act of making stuffed peppers, chicken scampi, and baked salmon is a pleasure. One day I'd like to tackle a Thanksgiving turkey.

Do you cook and if so, what's your favorite meal to make?

[SwampCreature]

I looooooooooooove love love to cook! I cook for myself and my partner fairly often, I love to bake, I watch a lot of cooking shows, all of it. I wouldn’t say I’m an extraordinary cook but I think I’m pretty good (my partner would say I’m Michelin Star-worthy). I try to challenge myself: I’ve made multiple full Thanksgiving dinners (5+ dishes and dessert), whole prime ribs, Beef Wellingtons, racks of lamb, pho, homemade cheese, layer cakes, meringues, crepes, all sorts of bread…I think the only things I haven’t had a go at yet are macarons (intimidated) and homemade pasta (no pasta roller…yet).

I think it’s really sweet that you learned from helping your spouse!! I consider cooking to be one of my love languages, it’s a very tangible way for me to show people I care about them and want them to be happy, so I think sharing that with a partner and learning from/with them is wonderful!!

[Mariano]

@Alexander-Salkin I love the concept of cooking, I just wish I was good at it without all the work that would go into it. For the most part, I don't mind failing in my journey to learning a new skill, but with cooking in particular, it feels bad to be wasting food and to end up double disappointed when you fail because not only were you not able to do it, now you can't even eat to distract yourself from the failure

Plus, it's also difficult to try to get good at something that takes at least double to make/prepare than it takes to enjoy afterwards.

[mianngu]

@Alexander-Salkin

I can cook, but I prefer to play sous-chef to my husband who loves to cook. I am happy to bake you anything from cakes to bread, but I can't follow a recipe to save my life. Oooo Cinnamon... probably needs some cardamon too. All while my husband looks over my shoulder cringing over my spice dalliances.

[mianngu]

@Mariano I have a rule that I have to eat it >.> I made it or ordered it... gotta eat it.