I have a food related question... I see so many orthodox and signature food items being talked about and I am curious. I cook all my own food and if you saw my full body picture you would see that I am a long way away from starvation, so everything must be edible. I always dabbled a little when I was younger. I had a spaghetti sauce recipe that was given to me by a pure blooded Italian that had everything in it including the kitchen sink. It even specified that I had to purchase only tomatoes that were imported from Italy and available in only one store in the area. It used to take 8+ hours to make and cook everything down to sauce consistency. I mean this sauce even contained bone in pork chops among other meats. I lost the recipe by forgetting it was in my wife's recipe box. I lost it in the divorce. She apparently threw it away because my daughter has that box now and it isn't anyplace to be found.
I don't know why I said all that because my question (yes, I'm finally getting around to ask it) how did all of you learn how to cook. Were you taught by your family, school, trial and error or did you just wake up one day and could cook all kinds of things? I am sometimes amazed by seemingly new designer things that crop up. Things like Basil Aioli, something that I never heard of in my 71 years on the planet and now it seems like everyone on the planet, besides me, know what it is. It is even "featured" in a Sonic Ad stated as if it is one of the most important food items ever. Anyway... how does everyone know this and where did some of these new things come from? Where they always there and someone just changed the name so they could charge more or have they always been there under a different name or perhaps used as animal feed until recently?
I learned to cook from my mom, which is to say, I would want to make something, I would call her, and she would walk me through it. My college roomie and I taught each other, too. She made a really good alfredo. Of course, I don't really make it any more. I remember following recipes, too. I worked in a grocery store deli during and right after college. I could probably still make a vat of dill dip, but could never bring it down to regular size.
I never spent a lot of time in the kitchen with mom. I was in charge of making sure my little brothers stayed out, so they wouldn't get underfoot. Calling Mom on the phone worked, until she passed away. I have found some of her regular recipes, but a lot of them are just gone.
And that is why, I have taught DS to cook. It is a lifelong skill, and, let's face it, the girls like it. I started showing him some of his favorites. And with the attitude that Domino's is always on standby, he has gotten pretty good, and adventurous. Last night he made chicken with an orange maple glaze. I made wild rice, DH put together a salad. DS also does a lot of curries and marinades.
And now, DD has started a bit, too. She really likes making fajita bowls. But lately, she has been experimenting with ramen.
metro.co.uk
www.eater.com
