Where/how/when did you learn to cook?

Being out of my parent’s house right after HS and not getting married until I was 35 I’ve been cooking most of my life. I really do enjoy it. The bigger the crowd to better. Wife doesn’t know how to cook so if I don’t cook I don’t eat.

Watching my grandmaw cook since I could pull up a stool next to the stove. Asked questions and watched. Ironically my momma is a terrible cook cause she said my grandmaw never wanted her near the stove and asking questions????. You soften up with dem grand babies!! To this day I still watch and learn from others in person on the net. Have my recipes I love myself but always willing to try some new stuff and cooking gadgets.

It’s weird. My grandmother cooked every day and is from Basile so you’d think I’d have grown up in a “cooking family”, but just like my mom, it was just cooking for sustenance.

Gumbo, jambalaya, dirty rice, etc usually comes from a mix. That kind of thing. They also both only use a few tablespoons of roux in gumbo.

My mom was a great cook, and she cooked homemade meals every night. My sister and I started helping her when we were young. My uncle also loved to cook and did it well, so he taught me and his sons a lot too, including the idea that it was cool for guys to know how to cook.

From a bunch of Italian ladies in the kitchen. Mom, MawMaw, Aunts, homemade Italian bread, red gravy on Sundays was glorious.

My grandparents from Avoyelles Parish. Hung out with Mama and Papaw in the kitchen

Mom was a good cook and so were both of my grandmothers, but I didn't really try to cook until I was in college and then didn't really start learning until I was married. I'd call Mom and ask her questions and look through cookbooks. Lots of trial and error. When my husband and I were dating, I recall cooking spaghetti sauce and chili and you could hardly tell them apart because I didn't understand which spices went with which thing.

I'm still only a good basic home cook. I'm good at winging it and coming up with something from things I have on hand. The trick to that is having good things on hand!

I originally learned from my parents and my grandpa. I would just think of something I wanted to cook and ask them how to cook it. I started this in my younger 20’s when I first started having to fend for myself. I also learn from watching my father in-law and my wife’s grandpa.

I don’t think learning really ever stops though, I still read (and watch videos) about new and different meals weekly.

Most all of the men in my family cook. My aunts are very good cooks. I was in the kitchen at an early age cooking simple stuff for myself such as grilled cheese and scrambled egg type stuff.

On my own, I grew tired of fast food. I started learning to cook some of the things my family made. As I got better, I learned the old ways of making things. I ditched the cream of soups, the velveeta, and started trying new foods.

Truth be told, I did not really consider myself a good cook until I was around 30. My grandmother taught me a thing or two here and there but ultimately, I have never been able to apply those tips until recently. I remember in college being able to grill a steak (marinated in Italian dressing), grilling a good burger, and making spaghetti and meatballs. Those were my go tos. I remember making “rice and gravy” that tasted good enough, but was clear because I had no idea how to brown meat properly.

At the age of about 28, I seriously started to work on being a good cook. I credit two main sources for my improvement. Youtube, and this board. I seriously have learned so much just listening and asking questions on this forum. For all the petty arguing and minor bullshite that has to be put up with on occasion, this board has an incredible wealth of culinary knowledge. The best part is, everybody is very willing to share what they know and patiently answer questions. There is a fair amount of poking and commenting all in good fun, but by and large, criticism is almost always helpful or constructive.

So to answer the question, I learned how to cook here. Thanks guys and gals!