Dumbing down cookbooks

[GalwayBird]

When I cook fresh bread ans scones, the birds come to my window and enjoy the smell...some days I don't cook and I can see them fluttering around the window waiting for me to cook. The days I don't cook are the days I am lazy!

[Muddy4paws]

I'm one of those people .. I would love to learn how to cook, Althought I can honestly say I haven't( this year!) and have no plans on eating any microwave meals again because seriously you can just taste how bad they are!

I did cooking at school but my teacher never taught us the basics and if we couldnt do it we was told to sit out so never really got the chance to learn! I know its very sad but I have only recently figured out how to use the oven in my house! I guess its just down to never being shown or taught how to do certain things.
I know very few things but definatly would love to learn more because I enjoy being in the kitchen making things!

[Karen]

Every child in our family could put a meal on the table for the whole family by the time they finished elementary school. Male or female, made no difference. Both my parents enjoyed cooking, and passed that enjoyment to us, which I am sure our respective spouses appreciate. My eldest neice and nephew have been trained that way as well, and I am sure all subsequent ones will be.

For bridal showers for people who did NOT grow up in my family, I usually make sure to include a paperback Fanny Farmer cookbook. It defines everything, cooking terms, etc., and always has. It is invaluable for a beginning cook of any age.

The good part about learning to cook? The results are usually edible - and if not, at least then you know what NOT to do! A dear friend once brought muffins to work, handed one to me and said "Tell me what's wrong with it!" Took a bite, the flavor was okay, just the texture kind odd. She had stirred them into submission, not necessary for muffins!

[RedHedd]

I LOVE to cook and learned from my mom and grandmother at a very early age. Mom went to work when I was about 12 or 13 and my sister and I shared the duties of cooking for a family of five. Home-Economics (basically teaching you how to be a housewife) was mandatory in high school back in those days and I LOVED the cooking classes.

The microwave is merely a nice accessory to my kitchen. I use it mainly for cooking vegetables which is does very well and very quickly. I don't buy frozen, prepared or packaged foods, preferring to cook fresh food "from scratch" and I live alone. I prefer my cooking over anything that comes in frozen boxes. It really doesn't take too long if you know what you're doing in the kitchen.

[sirrahbed]

Home-Economics (basically teaching you how to be a housewife) was mandatory in high school back in those days and I LOVED the cooking classes.

Home Ec was cut from the curriculum in our city schools about 7 years ago. My boys learned to cook and even use a sewing machine. By the time Missy was in that school - it was no longer available which I think is too bad.

Do kids still learn cooking at school in your area??

Oh and I still keep my "Joy of Cooking Cookbook" handy to refer to... I also love to watch Foodnetwork, where I continue to learn even now

[dogzr#1]

I kind of know how to cook. I know enough so that if I was left alone for a while, I could eat without ordering take-out. During the summer each of us was in charge of one meal a week. My brother and I were partners because we couldn't make stuff on our own. One week we had mushroom filled meatloaf. It was wonderful! I really enjoy cooking, even if sometimes I don't know what I'm doing.

[Karen]

Funny that you mentioned "Home Ec" - it was mandatory in Jr. High in my town (3/4 the year for girls, 1/4 for boys) and my mother nicely talked them out of me having to take it. She said "She can already put a meal on the table for six people, and she makes her own clothes. What were you planning on teaching her?" So I got to hang out and do independent study in the art room for 3/4 of the year. The other 1/4 (which boys had 3/4 of) was wood shop, and that I did do.

I was recently visiting with a friend from school, and we talked about that. She said ""I TOOK Home Ec - made an ugly blouse which I never wore, and don't remember learning anything useful."