How essential is cooking a skill to you? How serious are you about it?

[GTOguy]

Originally Posted by aerovette

When I adopted the technique of cleaning as I cook/prep, it was an HUGE game changer. By the time I am done and everything is cooking, I have nothing to clean.

I do the same. Use mainly 65 year old Revereware from my parents along with cast iron skillets and some Le Cruset cast iron/porcelain stuff. **** Teflon and Aluminum. And while we're at it, Slewfoot.

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by GTOguy

I do the same. Use mainly 65 year old Revereware from my parents along with cast iron skillets and some Le Cruset cast iron/porcelain stuff. **** Teflon and Aluminum. And while we're at it, Slewfoot.

I have one or two pots of Revereware that were a wedding gift to my parents 63 years ago. I bought a set for myself in 87 and still use those. I have a full set of Stainless too. WAY too many pots and pans, but I use the older ones far more than the new.

[Louie Detroit]

Originally Posted by GTOguy

I do the same. Use mainly 65 year old Revereware from my parents along with cast iron skillets and some Le Cruset cast iron/porcelain stuff. **** Teflon and Aluminum. And while we're at it, Slewfoot.

Originally Posted by aerovette

I have one or two pots of Revereware that were a wedding gift to my parents 63 years ago. I bought a set for myself in 87 and still use those. I have a full set of Stainless too. WAY too many pots and pans, but I use the older ones far more than the new.

I have my own Revereware and it kicks ass for cooking perfect chewy bacon.

[roadpilot]

Can't cook, can't type. NO one is perfect.

[Egnalf]

Cooking is relatively easy once you learn basic techniques and flavors.

[dvarapala]

Very important - I wouldn't marry a woman who didn't have it.

[tjfontaine]

I'm a foodie so yes it is important to me. My wife cooks but I have gotten better than her ....

As to dishwashers, we only scrape the big chunks off and toss them in the dishwasher they come out perfect - 1 year old Bosch .... I have friends that wash the dishes before they wash the dishes you should NOT have to be doing this with a good dishwasher and good detergent and rinse agent.

[Bill]

I cook easy stuff....grilling, steaming veggies, mashed potatoes and gravy, pot roasts, vegetable soup, etc. I also use box mixes for things like red beans and rice, mac and cheese, etc. I add stuff to those box mixes to my taste.....veggies, grilled chicken, sausage, extra cheese, etc. And I do eat canned soup, chili, beef stew, etc., as well, although again, I add stuff I like. Cream of whatever plus rice, veggies and whatever got cooked on the grill is easy enough. I make salsa, but buy the tortilla chips. When I have time I can do most breakfast stuff, omelets, biscuits and sausage gravy, French toast, etc., but usually just make a quick pot of oatmeal.

I generally don't make anything really involved, though. I'll get a Stauffer's frozen lasagna vs. making one from scratch, for example.

[Rodnok1]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

I cook easy stuff....grilling, steaming veggies, mashed potatoes and gravy, pot roasts, vegetable soup, etc. I also use box mixes for things like red beans and rice, mac and cheese, etc. I add stuff to those box mixes to my taste.....veggies, grilled chicken, sausage, extra cheese, etc. And I do eat canned soup, chili, beef stew, etc., as well, although again, I add stuff I like. Cream of whatever plus rice, veggies and whatever got cooked on the grill is easy enough. I make salsa, but buy the tortilla chips. When I have time I can do most breakfast stuff, omelets, biscuits and sausage gravy, French toast, etc., but usually just make a quick pot of oatmeal.

I generally don't make anything really involved, though. I'll get a Stauffer's frozen lasagna vs. making one from scratch, for example.

I had a Stauffer's lasagna last month.... It was horrible, little meat(extra meat one IIRC) nor much cheese. It was mostly noodles. Nothing like they used to be.

[LATB]

Originally Posted by roadpilot

Can't cook, can't type. NO one is perfect.

This ^^^
My wife excels at those skills so why would I deny her that joy.

[Mick]

Originally Posted by KenHorse

That's why G-d created dishwashers

No, MAN created dishwashers. That's why men have already done their part of cleaning up after the meal.

[Mick]

Originally Posted by Louie Detroit

When I was a kid both my Grandma's showed me cooking tricks and reinforced the idea that men that can cook are sexy and attractive to women.

One of my first several dates with my wife, I cooked her dinner. I made a family recipe, called "pecan chicken". It is simply chicken CUTLETS, with a pecan encrusting, steamed cauliflower, and a very simple sauce that is just sour cream mixed with dijon mustard. I knew better, but still brain cramped at the store, and bought chicken breasts, still on the bone. My then-fledgling girlfriend later admitted that when she saw me remove the entire breast from the bones in one swipe, she REALLY liked that.

[Onebadcad]

Can someone in here explain why most, if not all, skillets have the two symetrical indentations--they always catch my hangnails when I scrub them clean.

[Unsuspicious]

Originally Posted by Onebadcad

Can someone in here explain why most, if not all, skillets have the two symetrical indentations--they always catch my hangnails when I scrub them clean.

Manufacturing defect, you should fill them in with some automotive grade bondo

[Yadkin]

She's always been a better cook than I am so that's her thing. When she was coaching, about a five-year stint, I took over making dinners. After she retired she took an online course in techniques and has gotten even better. She's the chef, I'm the cleaner.

[Onebadcad]

Originally Posted by Unsuspicious

Manufacturing defect, you should fill them in with some automotive grade bondo

Nice try,,, next.

[Unsuspicious]

Originally Posted by Onebadcad

Nice try,,, next.

Wym? After some bondo and sanding with kosher salt, you can barely tell the dumb dents were there. Sure makes a mess when pouring grease now, though.

[Onebadcad]

^^^
You can buy with or without, trying to figure out why the option exists.

[Yadkin]

Originally Posted by Onebadcad

Can someone in here explain why most, if not all, skillets have the two symetrical indentations--they always catch my hangnails when I scrub them clean.

Pouring.

[GTOguy]

Originally Posted by aerovette

I have one or two pots of Revereware that were a wedding gift to my parents 63 years ago. I bought a set for myself in 87 and still use those. I have a full set of Stainless too. WAY too many pots and pans, but I use the older ones far more than the new.

LOL....my Revereware was my parent's wedding gift in 1957. Some of it was made in Illinois, some in Southern California. The CA plant operated from 1948 to 1962, so anything marked CA on the bottom is at least 62 years old. The stuff never wears out. I have Cutco cutlery from 1960 that my folks bought and from 1979-80 that I bought when I sold it door to door in college. Still cuts and works like new after 45 years of daily use. **** new stuff. (and Joe Biden)