How Did You Learn to Cook?

[JaniceSW]

Did you learn to cook from being in the kitchen with a parent or relative or was it just trial and error?  For me, although my mother was considered an excellent cook (and baker), she just didn't seem to want to be bothered with having me in the kitchen.  I had to learn to cook through the trial and error process and to this day only occasionally make items from scratch just to challenge myself.  Years ago, in my twenties, this used to exasperate my first husband.  Oh, well!  I can now make a pretty good meal...if I want to.

[gsdoss]

We all learned from our mother at an early age and kept on learning

[Nancy5]

I'm exactly like you, my mom was excellent in the kitchen.  Her meals and baked goods were outstanding, but she never had the time, energy, or desire to teach me anything.  I learned through trial and error.

[sbenkoski]

I learned from  my grand daddy and grand ma , my mother God rest her soul    couldn't cook and it was scary the stuff she would do...      trying to be a cook, you  needed  to keep the spices out of her hands. If she didn't have what was called for in a recipe she would use something else.. such as cinnamon in dressing rather than sage and poultry seasoning.  or chopped dill pickles replacing onions ( she really tried BUT ... wow you never knew what to expect)   

[SherylsShado]

I was taught baking at a early age and then cooking came several years later (taught by parents).  I was also taught in Home Ec class (failed it), another relative tried to help & they gave up, and I've watched alot of cooking shows...but nothing ever "sticks" (except to the pan).

I think to be good at it also requires some talent and I have NONE in the kitchen.  I'm still very "basic" and still manage to burn that, most of the time.  My favorite thing to make is salads...hard to mess that up.   

[dreamyxo]

Watching my parents in the kitchen.  I didn't really help out a lot when I was younger but I picked up things as I watched them.  Sometimes they would tell me and show me things but when I was younger wasn't too interested.  As I got older I found recipes I wanted to try out myself. I still collect recipes and try out new ones once in a while.

[kathleenkleinhans]

From my parents and both my grandmas.  My one grammie was so terrific at baking, but I never quite got her gene for that. Now I love to cook so much and am always trying new things.  Most recepies  I read then improvise.  One Saturday I was making salsa Verde for enchiladas and a salted carmel sauce for a cheesecake topping....Crazy ambitious that day!

[ljrjess69]

by watching and using reciepies

[potluck6]

I suppose i learned myself used to watch her cook somethings. I remember after i was married i cooked an egg and was surprised at how easy it was. I don't like to cook but everyone has to  so i learned from trial and error mostly.

[aggie49]

i learned to cook from my grand ma and mom i used to love being in the kitchen when they were cooking it was never measured everything was a pinch of this and a dash of that

[6265AT99]

Interestingly enough, I learned mostly from my Dad.  He was a baker in the Army and loved to cook all sorts of things and he was damn good at it too.

[braggin]

My mom was not a terrible cook exactly, but she was no whiz at it either. Just your basic meat and potatoes kind of a lady. However, she did teach me what she knew, which wasn't a whole lot. I actually learned the most the fastest after getting married and watching my husband's father (of all people) cook. He was a genius at the art of seasoning food. He would tell me exactly how to make good stuff over the telephone and show me stuff in person when we were together too. He has since passed on, but I still have wonderful memories of cooking with him.

[tweety0412]

My dad taught my to cook but I mostly use recipes. My husband is a good cook and doesn't need to follow recipes.

[potluck6]

Even with womans lib woman are suppose to know how to cook and men i suppose are to like sports.

[lhz123]

Learn to cook from my sister. She went to a culinary school and she really loves cooking. I always watched her every time she is in the kitchen.