I'm so happy!

[Nuclear Unicorn]

Hello, my name is Nuclear Unicorn and I am a horrible cook.

Bland, tasteless, burnt, boiled and too tough to chew have been the hallmarks of my cooking.

I admit it. It's been a point of shame for me.

On the weekend the hubby won't even let me go near the kitchen. Mostly because he loves to cook and grill himself and its a big stress reliever for him but I can't help but be suspicious there is a hint of desperate self-preservation.

Well, just after we got married he took a new position as a supervisor. His hours are even more grueling than before but its almost as physical. When he gets home he's simply too exhausted to cook and truth be told he isn't getting home until 8, nine or 10 o'clock. That's too late.

I've tried cooking in the past but even I don't want to eat my own stuff so he's been living off of fast food.

Earlier this week I lamented my maltreatment of the man I love to one of the wives in the neighborhood.

Last night she came over after I got home from work and we made Shepherd's Pie. She just sort of walked me through it giving me pointers as we gabbed about nothing in particular.

Hubby came home about 9:30 last night and took a small portion.

He had a few bites and got up from the table and walked over to the stove...

...

...and piled a huge mound of it on top of his plate!

He even went back for thirds!!!

I so happy I cooked for my hubby...AND I DIDN'T EVEN KILL HIM!

[ceile]

1. Good for you!

I used to be a terrible cook- couldn't follow a recipe to save my life. Then after a few successful attempts at cooking I realized that I actually enjoy it! It was a big shock to me. I never thought I would ever be able to make anything more than microwave pizza, but now I cook 5 days a week. Keep at it is my advice- you may come to enjoy it! And enjoying what you're doing is half the battle.

[rrneck]

2. I don't really like to cook and I'm not much of a foodie

but starving isn't an option.

Several years ago somebody gave me a crock pot. I thought to use it for encaustic but it wound up in the cabinet for a few years forgotten. I found it last winter and through the wonder of the internet I discovered that crock pot cooking is pretty easy. You just put the stuff in there and turn it on in the morning and by night you've got yourself some pretty good eats. It ain't gourmet, but it's tasty, cheap, and it'll keep you on your legs.

[MiddleFingerMom]

3. ATTAGIRL!!!

.
.
.
MiddleFingerMomMom taught me to cook the basics for survival skill
purposes. My ex was a fantastic cook... and when we separated I
knew that to keep eating that well, I had to learn how to do that myself.
.
When she married in 1973(?), we used to tease (pretty realistically)
MiddleFingerMomSis that she couldn't boil hot dogs. Not far off the
mark. She and her family eventually moved to San Franciso and she
started shopping at Fisherman's Wharf and actually took some classes.
.
I'm a GOOD cook. Friends who don't know any better call me a gourmet
cook. Not true for me. But MiddleFingerMomSis (the non-hotdog-makin'
blushing bride) is now the absolute FINEST home gourmet chef that I
know (she made whole devilled lobster one year for Christmas that I
woulda sold my soul for).
.
Your shepherd's pie is a start (and a GOOD one). If you can, take
some classes. There are probably websites that give video lessons
on how to cook "things" (mostly it's just technique and timing -- if
you can keep from burning or under/overcooking something, you're
more than halfway there).
.
I know how you feel. After all these years of cooking for friends and
loved ones, I STILL get a thrill out of seeing their eyes light up when
they bite into something I've made for them.
.
Look for beginning cooking websites. The library is an EXCELLENT
resource that I've used a lot in the past. Consider investing in "The
Joy of Cooking" -- a classic but still (I think) one of the best basic
cookbooks covering EVERYTHING on the planet (seems like, anyways).
.
The more you cook, the more confidence you'll build until. one day,
you'll wonder why you ever thought it was difficult.
.
That day WILL come... if you keep at it. Take your time and follow
cooking instructions and times/temps as closely as you can (though
with experience, you'll start improving/improvising things).
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[Lyric]

4. Oh bless your heart.

If you live within driving distance of West Virginia, I'll give you cooking lessons for free.

:hug:

[Demoiselle]

5. My mama alway said, "If you can read, you can cook."

I think it's true. Find yourself some good basic cookbooks. In the good ones, the writer will take you step by step just like your friend did.
And congratulations on your triumph!

[Inchworm]

6. Woohoo!!

Any leftovers? I loves me some Shepherd's Pie :9

:yourock:

If you haven't stopped in, check out the Cooking & Baking(C&B) Group here on DU. Very friendly and they even put up with my crazy questions ;)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=236

:hi:

[applegrove]

7. I'm not a natural cook. I have a few recipes I can cook for my parents but rely on the caterers and

prepared food more often than not. I wish I had my dad's cooking gene but I don't.

[seabeyond]

8. that is the reward in cooking. seein the hubby pile it on in appreciation...

made the job a lot easier. i wasnt the cook either. probably about par for you. recently i told hubby, you dont cook nearly as much as you use to. he said was survival and wanting flavors in the past, now i do well, so he doesnt need to. a couple years of simple to get the hang of it all, and you will get more comfortable. will send you some easy recipes.

you know.... extent of skill, boiling water.

[MilesColtrane]

9. I just got the America's Test Kitchen Family Baking Book and it rocks.

They add a lot of basic info in the front and always have little tips in the recipes for making things come out great.

I had never cooked scratch brownies before, but I did a couple of batches using its recipe and took them to work. Scored points with my coworkers and boss.