Learning to Cook

[AlphaNate]

Hello, men!

So, lately I've taken a venture that I'd never really considered before: cooking! I'm still learning and still getting the hang of it - online recipes help quite a bit. I was working out date details with a girl a few weeks ago, and she couldn't decide where she wanted to go. It wasn't really premeditated, but as I've been slowly teaching myself to cook, I decided to invite her over for a home-cooked meal. She accepted.

Not only did this immediately get the girl in my house, but it showed her that I have the ability to cook and make food for her and me. The pan-seared chicken (with a rub I made) and steamed veggies didn't come out too bad, either! While I was cooking and she was sitting on the counter at the other end of the sink, she actually said that she was turned on by how much of a "grown man" I am. Pretty cool stuff. I've been on vacation for a couple weeks, but I'd like to try this again soon.

Have you guys had any experience with cooking at home for women and/or any advice or stories you could share?

Thanks.

 

[wifehunter]

It only gets better with time...also, cooking alone gives you the freedom to experiment with creating your own signature/style.

YouTube is a good entertaining resource for this...check out Gordon Ramsey, Alton Brown, etc.

I firmly believe that, a good home cooked meal, is better than going out!!!

 

[ImTheDoubleGreatest!]

First thing a man needs to learn if he decides he wants to know how to cook: meat. Steak, chicken, and fish you need to know how to do. Especially steak. Anything that can go on a grill really. But steak. If you cook it the way you want to, it's delicious. I love steak.

 

[Billtx49]

What really impresses a woman are the more specialty dishes like Chicken Cordon Bleu or Scallops Florentine. As always though, when using a recipe site, always pick the most reviewed and highest rated recipes.
Regarding cooking meats, when in doubt always err on the slightly under done side, can be zapped later if needed. Over done can't be undone.
Friend of mine always bought the same cut, thickness, and close to same weight of steak, first time took note of the cooking temp on grill and time involved. Matched it every time later, cooked to perfection always. Easy…
If the timed approach is not your thing, Weber makes a great instant temp digital thermo, use mine inside and on grill.

 

[daddymonsterpoodle]

Cooking is cool. There are a few recipes that are hard to go past for quick and tasty. Teriyaki beef or chicken are good.
Cheesy potatoes wedges are pretty fun and social.
Tortilla wraps are pretty quick and delightfully messy.

For more elegant food learning to do a good sauce or gravy helps presentation.

 

[GoodOne123]

Learn to make a good lasagne, and bolognese. Very tasty, can be quick, affordable, not too difficult

 

[taiyuu_otoko]

Have you guys had any experience with cooking at home for women and/or any advice or stories you could share?

Yes. Learn to cook. However you can, just practice until you get it right. Just mentioning you like to cook will push a woman (some women) off the fence and into your lap.

To take it up a notch, learn to cook and have "dinner parties" once a month or so. Invite your friends, etc. Use it to experiment.

Just mentioning to a lady you've just met that you like to cook AND you have "experimental dinner parties" once a month or so will get her curious.

As a side benefit, learning to cook will save you money and keep you from eating the pre-processed death they sell in supermarkets.

A worthy skill to have, ladies or not.

 

[resilient]

Cook to the correct temperature and finish or you'll get nightmares of Gordon Ramsey yelling in your face (or, in the face of a plate that's over for your cooking skills... a frown or mute expression upon serving).

 

[Bible_Belt]

The right reason to cook is that you enjoy good food, and good food starts with quality ingredients. Buy what's in season whenever you can, and buy from local farms whenever possible.

 

[TheMonkeyKing]

Learn to cook primarily for personal nutrition, secondarily to entertain guest and only lastly to impress women.

If you can get to a place where you can pick up any every day cookbook, from any cuisine, and confidently execute every recipe, that's when you can call yourself a good cook.

Thai and curry is cheap, fresh, nutritious and pretty difficult to get wrong.

 

[daddymonsterpoodle]

When you can get to the point where you don't need cookbooks for anything but inspiration then you will be a good cook... But yeah curries are easy and shared meals are fun where everybody brings a plate of food. It also makes it affordable instead of you having to provide all the ingredients and do all the cooking. Learning to handmake bread is a cool skill as well.

It is easy to add a little flair to most food. Instead of a plain omelette add some smoked paprika , and shavings of a hard cheese. Add some slivers of capsicum and suddenly you have a classier looking meal. Generally men don't care but women seem to appreciate the extra effort.

Maybe we should start a cookbook topic of simple meals that look good.

 

[ubercat]

Shamelessly promoting my own thread

http://www.sosuave.net/forum/threads/the-dj-cook.229590/

The first few posts r everyone chiming in since I got tumbleweeds initially. Also Des linked to an older thread in there that had some good stuff.

The themes of the thread are cooking shortcuts and hero ingredients which lift a basic dish.

If any of u guys could add some some suggestions to that thread from Asian or Latin cooking that would be great. It's a bit Eurocentric at the mo.

 

[Roober]

I subscribed to Cuisine At Home a couple years ago. The recipes are elegant (sometimes expensive), and possess very robust flavors. If I had a girl over, I would likely just use one of the recipes from there I cook often. A lot of cooking, like everything else, is practice... this will let you understand how different flavors and spices mix together, and what goes well with what...

Tonight for example, I made bourbon glazed porkchops with a delicious sauce, sage and apple butternut squash mash, and sauteed broccoli. All 3 were awesome, as usual!

 

[AlphaNate]

Great stuff, guys! Thanks for the ideas. I look forward to getting better at cooking. And you make great points about women not being the reason I should keep learning to cook. Although it's a nice side result!