Comments on: I try to love it, but it just won’t have me

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 12:51:11 +0000

Good luck! I’ve given up on cooking, I think. Thankfully, the husband loves it. He just made salpicao. *Pats belly*

I’ve given up as well, L. Sigh. No big loss really because I end up botching the meals anyway. I’ll try once in awhile anyway and see how it goes. My hubby cooks better anyway. Heehee.

Care to share some salpicao?

By: tin

tin — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:50:31 +0000

maybe you’re just too busy these days.. it takes a ‘certain mood’ din to be able to enjoy your stay in the kitchen. it’ll come back to you, you’ll see..

That’s true, Tin. I’ve been too tired to channel any creative energy into cooking.

By: Hazel Chua

Hazel Chua — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:20:26 +0000

Hello there… I once added you to my blogroll, but that blog is now “defunct”.
Anyway, don’t be too hard on yourself, you’ll learn in time… You may want to visit my blog for some recipes which I post from time to time, they’re easy ones so you don’t have to worry about messing up too much
Blog URL is http://hazelsheryllchua.blogspot.com.
Goodluck!

Thanks for the link. I’ll check your blog out!

By: J.

J. — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:54:39 +0000

I didn’t particularly like cooking when I was growing up. These days, it’s rare when a couple of days go by and I haven’t baked or cooked anything. It will happen for you too, and all I can say at this point is…keep your love for food alive. The best cooks are the best eaters! Because they’re familiar with how flavors come together, they’re able to recognize what ingredients work best in the long run.

Plan to try something new every weekend. Breakfast food is a great way to ease into cooking. Start with pancakes, omellettes, corned beef hash, all that good stuff. Everything grows from patience – here’s hoping yours will make way for a lifelong love affair with cooking.

That’s very encouraging J. Thank you thank you thank you!

By: Pinky

Pinky — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 21:22:07 +0000

Don’t lose heart, Toni. I never really considered myself a good cook yet somehow I’ve managed to whip up food that’s “enjoyably edible” (as you said) with constant practice. Heck, after 10+ years of marriage, I still use a cookbook most of the time! I definitely agree – practice is key. Good luck!

Time is on my side then. Thank you!

By: lady cess

lady cess — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:30:56 +0000

hinanap ko to para sa iyo

LLOYD JONES:
Those who try to do something and fail are infinitely better than those who try nothing and succeed.

Awww salamat cess!

By: rowie

rowie — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 05:34:29 +0000

PS. I have another friend who decided, shortly after she got married, to take a cooking class, and it seems to have really helped her develop a love for cooking.

That’s an idea. Thanks R!

By: rowie

rowie — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 05:32:55 +0000

Hey Tones! What is it about cooking that you find unmotivating?

If it’s the pagod …. When Mike and I don’t have any energy to cook, we just make steaks. Easiest thing in the world, yet you feel like you’re eating like a king. After marinating (we have the 9-minute marinator, so it makes marinating really quick-and-easy), it just takes around 5 minutes. We just marinate the steaks with whatever we feel like that evening: sometimes we just throw in some mustard and Worcestershire sauce, other times it’s store-bought teriyaki sauce (from the Japanese aisle), other times just garlic salt and pepper (and we serve the steaks with Worcestorshire sauce on the side for additional flavor). With half a can of corn cooked in butter, the whole dinner is cooked in 10 minutes. Super-yummy, and if you rotate different marinades, you get a completely different dish each time.

The only secret is to buy good quality steaks. Monterey is okay; Garcia’s is better. And if you find a grocery/butcher near you that has good steaks, that’s a goldmine. It may seem more expensive to buy good-quality meat compared to the more affordable meat, but it’s still cheaper than eating out, and when you’re enjoying your dinner it’s absolutely worth it.

Thanks for the tips, Rowie! You make it sound so easy!

By: Kay

Kay — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:54:15 +0000

Don’t worry Toni. I used to not know how to boil water. It was that bad. Now I’m fairly okay in the kitchen and even hit the goldmine from time to time. It takes a lot of practice and the numbers to all the delivery places at first (its for when you mess up the food.)

This is one of those areas where practice really makes perfect.

Thanks Kay! *hugs*

By: nina

nina — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:24:26 +0000

Unlike baking where precise measurement for ingredients is required, cooking is “tanya-tanya.” Cookbooks do provide some measurements but it’s only a guide and should be adjusted according to your taste. Try to learn from experts like your mom-in-law and friends. The best tips comes from family and friends and not from the book. Start from the basics and when you learn the basics, you will realize that every recipe is just composed of those basic steps. For me, the best way to learn is by watching how a certain recipe is cooked not from TV but from whoever you are taking the recipe from. I also stuggled during the first few months of cooking. The first few tries wouldn’t really be perfect so don’t despair but this first few tries would be your bench-mark for achieving your desired flavor and taste. If your first try is bland then add a little bit of salt next time.

Happy cooking and happy weekend!

Thanks for the words of encouragement Nina!