Do Any of You Do the Cooking?

[cottontop]

Do any of you guys cook; either because you like it or because you have to? When my GF and I decided to move in together 6 years ago, we made an agreement that she would work and I would retire and do all of the cooking. The fact is I love to cook. I have some great recipes for lots of different dishes and I do prefer the simpler, traditional types of foods.
cottontop

 

[Shaving_CHENG]

Take a swing through The Mess Hall. I'd say it's safe to bet a lot of us do the cooking!

 

[Howl1nWolf]

I used to cook more for us but my wife turned vegetarian and is a pretty picky eater on top of that so now I only cook for myself when I need my meat fix.

 

[dogslife]

I would say it's about 80/20 in my household, with myself doing the majority. There are certain dishes I prefer to let my Mrs. prepare. I can make them, but she seems to do something different enough that they always taste better than mine.

 

[Revan]

My wife and I both like to cook,but she cooks most of the meals. When it's time for a special meal I always do the cooking though, not that she couldn't make something special, I just like to give her a break from time to time.

 

[August West]

The wife does most of the cooking. I am the 'seasoner'.

 

[Jayk]

I did all the cooking (except for the odd time) when I lived with my ex. I liked it that way because I like cooking and was better at it too.

 

[Proinsias]

I do maybe 70% of day to day meals. She does pretty much 100% of sweet treats and baking.

 

[Mick]

I've always cooked.

when I was very small I would "weasel" a meal at a friend's (or acquaintance) any time I could. I like eating everything and growing up in L.A. there was a large diversity of ethnic cooking and people to enjoy. My "modiu operandi" for making sure I got invited back was to say to the person's mother "I wish my mom could cook this good"... Always got invited back (wicked little thing I was) and I was always asking about what made something taste the way it did. we did not get a lot of middle eastern, Hispanic, northern and eastern European food around our house (my folks were simple food "meat and potatoes" people)

One of my first jobs (when I was somewhere around 14 or 15) was working in a hospital kitchen. The ladies took me under their wing as I wanted to learn everything. I worked in and managed a fast food restaurant my last year in high school. Apprenticed in a French restaurant. When I was in college I obtained my meals by "hashing" at two sorority houses (had dinner every day with 60 of the most beautiful women I had ever seen).

I don't think my wife has cooked more than a dozen meals in the 40 years we have been together and those times were because I was ill or incapacitated in some way or another.

I can eat a meal then make it identical just from taste memory.

Anytime the wife and I visit anyone, I am always the chosen cook for all the meals.

It's just always been that way.

The last time we had a meal out (other than when we are traveling) was maybe 8 years ago (maybe more)

 

[Shaving_CHENG]

The wife does most of the cooking. I am the 'seasoner'.

Was that self-titled, August?

 

[lwt210]

Yes, I do quite a bit of the cooking here.

If there is a breakfast cooked in this house, I cook it. Scrambled eggs, omelettes, fried, bacon, sausage, cornbread, rolled out biscuits, etc. I can have cast iron cornbread, cast iron sausages AND bacon, ready to go with scrambled eggs and fried eggs all done at the same time. My wife said that I have a knack for getting all to the table nice and hot.

Grilling? Just about all done now on my Lodge hibachi with lump charcoal. Steaks, chops, burgers, dogs, etc. I use cast iron on the hibachi.....skillets and griddles.....and prepare a myriad of dishes out there on that thing. Just tonight, it was grilled ham steaks with black eyed peas and creamed corn.

Baking is not my strong point but I can do mean cookies and the occasional cake. Casseroles are do-able as are most other dishes indoors. Chilis and soups are also fun dishes for me.

The trick to cooking (for me) is having the right tools to work with. I have a decent set of stainless cookware (Calphalon tri ply) and I know how to clean it (Bar Keepers Friend) to where I never get things sticking. I know how to de-glaze when I burn things and I know how to season cast iron. I haven't used teflon in years and don't ever plan on using it again.

A good, sharp carbon steel Nakiri is vital to my prep work as is a nice cutting board. Prep work is nice when my Nakiri will pop arm hairs and I keep it that way all of the time. Onions and peppers scream when they see me coming with that Nakiri.

Lately I have been grilling veggies to make home made salsas using locally grown tomatoes out of a co-worker's garden.

So yeah, I cook. And over the years, I have obtained some skills and knowledge on that front that allow me to serve up tasty dishes. My wife is an excellent cook as well and if memory serves, she has cooked two nights this week and I have cooked three. If we had a bigger kitchen, I am sure that we would cook more together but our galley size kitchen is a tight fit for one chef, let alone two.

My cast iron collection (vintage and modern) has about taken over the kitchen but I love cooking with iron. Once it is seasoned, it is really the only way to go.

 

[the_edski]

I do most of the cooking. It works out really well between SWMBO and I. I enjoy cooking while she doesn't, and she enjoys baking while I don't. I really couldn't ask for much more.

 

[SystemaCid]

I really enjoy cooking. When I left home for my tour in the Navy, I had no choice but to learn. Top Ramen and Mac n Cheese got old really fast. I really started learning to cook when I became a vegaterian about 10 years ago. My wife cooks too, but with our 4 month old keeps her pretty busy so I do more of the cooking right now.

 

[Teppanyaki]

As a single guy, I'm the only one cooking (my cats, lazy slugs that they are, have never even heated a pot of water. Not once).

When I was married, I did the majority of the cooking but not the baking.

 

[August West]

Was that self-titled, August?

Yes. Self-titled. I add the spices.

Did that come out wrong too?

 

[Senshi]

I absolutely love cooking. It's so relaxing to come home after a long day of work and plan out a meal, execute it and enjoy it. SWMBO works really late hours and I get home before here usually so I am the man with the apron. She usually cleans the dishes, something I hate.

 

[Kilroy08]

As the proud owner of a Kitchen Aid mixer with pasta attachment, I would say yes.

Since we got married in July, I think the wife has cooked only a handful of meals.

 

[Khedquist]

I would say I do 95% of the cooking. We have been married 36 years and it has always been that way. My Wife is a very good cook but i have the imagination in that department. She needs a recipe. I can go to the pantry and fridge and make up something. We have a rule whoever cooks doesn't have to clean up. Great deal. Although I do clean my pans and knives. i can't convince her that cast iron and woks don't get soaped.

I have a home office so I have dinner ready when she comes home from her office. I ask for cooking stuff for birthdays besides drills and other tools. She is great about helping in the yard. She does the laundry and I do my own ironing because it is relaxing. We both set up the ironing boards and watch tv while ironing. Funny thing is our two sons do the same things for their wives.

 

[hawgsquatch]

In my prior marriage and every relationship since, I have done the cooking for the most part. Why? Because I am better at it because I enjoy doing it. Right now it is just me and my two daughters and they are also exceptional cooks.

 

[jlanger]

I'm the cook, my wife is the baker. I do really well with just knowing when things (meats) especially are done and with seasoning by feel. Those don't tend to lend too well to baking though as I've discovered. Exact measurements (especially for doughs) are more important. I often will make the fillings of pies and such which works really well.