How did you learn to cook?

[Perknose]

As far as the (sic) on stilt, I was using it in the transitive verb sense, and although abstract, it is spelled correctly.

I could be pedantic and huffy and insist that "stilt" is not a verb (which, indeed, it isn't,) but I kind of like your creative extension of the erstwhile noun, so . . . :thumbsup:

At least now I grok your intended meaning, i.e., "propped up by."

I am going to go out on a limb and assume you despise throwing away food too? On fiscal and moral principles?

We are indeed two monkeys on that self-same limb, for the same twin principles. :awe:

 

[Fritzo]

I used to live in New Mexico and part of my job was roasting their famous chilis (well bred Anaheim peppers) and I have loved roasted peppers ever since, even if nothing can match those Chimayo/Hatch chilis.

Oh man, sausage stuffed Anaheim peppers with jalapeno oaxaca cheese...possibly better to drink beer with than pizza!

 

[Fritzo]

Golden Brown and Delicious
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p80LS_CCik&list=PLC7EC6DE03E91042D

There you go!

 

[KeithTalent]

Learned a lot of basics from my Grandmothers, who are both dead now. The balance I learned from working in restaurants plus a lot of trial and error at home.

KT

 

[Dr. Zaus]

On the bell peppers, very good way to get vitamin C, and I love them, but am more a sucker for the reds. Quartered and broiled to roast the skin off is a time consuming indulgence I like. I used to live in New Mexico and part of my job was roasting their famous chilis (well bred Anaheim peppers) and I have loved roasted peppers ever since, even if nothing can match those Chimayo/Hatch chilis.

Its what I will miss most when I leave.

Oh man, sausage stuffed Anaheim peppers with jalapeno oaxaca cheese...possibly better to drink beer with than pizza!

That said, comparing a hatch to an anaheim is like comparing legos to megablocks...

 

[gotsmack]

I paid a lot of money to a reputable culinary school to take an intensive amateur program. Worth every penny. If I had the time off work I would have taken a certificate program.

 

[natto fire]

I could be pedantic and huffy and insist that "stilt" is not a verb (which, indeed, it isn't,) but I kind of like your creative extension of the erstwhile noun, so . . . :thumbsup:

At least now I grok your intended meaning, i.e., "propped up by."

We are indeed two monkeys on that self-same limb, for the same twin principles. :awe:

Or you could go ATOT and berate my mother or a quick jab at my intelligence. Merriam Webster disagrees with your verb assessment, or maybe I am mistaken in that it needs the "ed" suffix to be a true transitive verb. Either way, Latin in forum posts is always a plus.

Shall we delve into cookware/methods as well? I am a cast iron/gas flame junkie myself. Split between olive oil and butter as my lubricant. I use oil if there will not be egg in my dish, and butter if there will be. I also go with butter if I will be including starchy things like potatoes and rice.

Its what I will miss most when I leave.

That said, comparing a hatch to an anaheim is like comparing legos to megablocks...

The food is easily the thing I miss most about New Mexico, but a landscape that has a wide variety and hot springs is a close second.

Hatch chiles are great, and worthy of recognition, but some of the local breeds, like the Chimayo or Espanola, are even better. As you said, once you have had these varieties properly roasted, it is hard to go back to Anaheims.

Picking them off the plant, roasting them, and eating them all in the same day is a food nirvana that leaves a permanent impression on your mind. That I fell so quickly back into settling for mediocre food when moving back to Ohio is a bit sad. I do have a source for fresh veggies so I make sure to indulge that fix, but the climate here does not lend itself to proper pepper growing.

 

[alkemyst]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jvVCJp429A

 

[Perknose]

Or you could go ATOT and berate my mother or a quick jab at my intelligence. Merriam Webster disagrees with your verb assessment, or maybe I am mistaken in that it needs the "ed" suffix to be a true transitive verb. Either way, Latin in forum posts is always a plus.

By Jove, you are correct sir! I have read widely, yet I have never read nor heard stilt used as a verb by anyone, ever. It's a good day when you learn something. Also, your momma!

Shall we delve into cookware/methods as well? I am a cast iron/gas flame junkie myself. Split between olive oil and butter as my lubricant. I use oil if there will not be egg in my dish, and butter if there will be. I also go with butter if I will be including starchy things like potatoes and rice.

I still bemoan the loss a gas stove when we bought our house. Nothing beats the instant, visual, continuous/analog control of your heat source. Electric is an abomination.

 

[EagleKeeper]

I still bemoan the loss a gas stove when we bought our house. Nothing beats the instant, visual, continuous/analog control of your heat source. Electric is an abomination.

City boy - learn to cook using wood. Judge the coals to get the heat constant

Learned at Grandmas' (plural) knees using wood/coal;
Graduated to Mother using gas/electric

 

[mammador]

I taught myself.

Simply buy a heap of groceries and spices, and trial and error/mix and match.

A man who cannot cook is a loser. It's a basic life skill. It was good enough for homo erectus, so good enough for us.

 

[alkemyst]

I taught myself.

Simply buy a heap of groceries and spices, and trial and error/mix and match.

A man who cannot cook is a loser. It's a basic life skill. It was good enough for homo erectus, so good enough for us.

So what is your true measure? I learned to cook, but I have a lot of friends that cannot (both male and female in that), but they have hired help to just bang meals out.

I have also known one of the chefs that catered to one of those families. He never cooked for himself except holiday meals.

 

[mammador]

if they needed help due to illness or other incapacity, then so be it.

If it's due to laziness, then IMO s/he is a loser.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I never really learned till I got my own house, my mom showed me a few things, and I kinda went on my own from there. I really should force myself to learn more stuff though, I tend to eat the same things, a lot of it being take out. :biggrin:

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

I taught myself.

Simply buy a heap of groceries and spices, and trial and error/mix and match.

A man who cannot cook is a loser. It's a basic life skill. It was good enough for homo erectus, so good enough for us.

Quoted for emphasis. So, so true.

 

[disappoint]

Cook
Makes 1 serving

1 cup of trial
1 cup of error
1 1/4 cups of hunger
2 cups of mistrust of restaurant employee cleanliness and health
3 tablespoons of parental influence
2 tablespoons of hubris
1 human with low to moderate brain damage

Combine and serve chilled with beer.

 

[Perknose]

City boy - learn to cook using wood. Judge the coals to get the heat constant

Learned at Grandmas' (plural) knees using wood/coal;
Graduated to Mother using gas/electric

I can't count the number of times I've seem would-be grillers eff up because they didn't understand/account for the arc of heat generation from coals. Patience.