Hello there, my name is EMCE. Perhaps you may have seen a post or two of mine on this site. Anyway, I was wondering a few things:

-What types of food do you usually make? (any favorites, or good old standbys?)
-Where did you learn to cook, or who taught you? (if anyone)
-What types of food would you like to learn how to make?



I suppose for myself:
- I'm more of a "grill guy". I make a lot of pasta dishes as well... usually make my own sauce to go over them. I also love spicy food. I do on occasion, but not often at all, bake my food (as in casseroles, or stuffed chx)

-I think I'm more of a grill guy because I really learned to cook in a restaurant (american) where, yep... you guessed it... a lot of the food we made was grilled. Steaks, burgers, fish steaks, chx, etc...
In the summer, I'm always grilling outside. When it's colder out, though not a grill, I make a lot of food on a flat top. I really do like the flat tops because (at least in my mind) I'm able to drain a lot of the grease and fat out.

-I would love to learn how to make thai food well. Also authentic indian cuisine ( . ). Carribean food, I have no idea how to make, but I do very much enjoy it. Also, seafood isn't my strong suit.

1/6/2010 9:25:00 PM

Grill FTW, everything taste better on a grill.

1/6/2010 9:25:30 PM

^ pasta? not so much


lasagna is my standby.... i have all these awesome cookbooks though that i intend on trying. i just need people to test these recipes out on

1/6/2010 9:26:34 PM

i made spaghetti tonight

one of the 2 things i can prepare

1/6/2010 9:27:26 PM

my spaghetti is BANGIN'
though very filling. Seriously, after a plate of my spaghetti, you're full for the night

1/6/2010 9:28:56 PM

i cook a lot of pasta dishes and i'm also quite good with the "meat & potatoes" type stuff. i learned to cook from PaulISdead and the food network. i'd like to learn how to cook mediterranean dishes and do more interesting things with vegetables and fish.

1/6/2010 9:29:37 PM

this thred is making me hungry

1/6/2010 9:30:00 PM

EMCE, i found some Dinosaur bbq sauce at harris teeter yesterday in raleigh

it's not the flavor that my old roommate from syracuse had in VA, but ill see how it is...

1/6/2010 9:31:23 PM

i've definitely learned to love cooking over the last year or two.

1/6/2010 9:32:59 PM

-Skillet, stirfry, sauces, I can also make an apple pie completely from scratch (including dough)
-Self, my father
-Really really good asian

1/6/2010 9:33:50 PM

^^^ hey man, like I told you. They sell all sorts of variants of dinosaur bbq up here. If you have a particular one in mind, I'll pick one up for ya

1/6/2010 9:36:50 PM

i need to look at their website and see if i can remember the label

1/6/2010 9:38:32 PM

steak
broken ankle
good shit

1/6/2010 9:39:01 PM

pasta or grilling mostly, prefer chicken dishes

learned a lot from my mom, but mostly just find recipes and follow them or make shit up on my own

1/6/2010 9:39:26 PM

i need to learn to cook raw chicken, but im scared i won't cook it enough and get salmonella or something

could increase my personal menu quite a bit

1/6/2010 9:41:40 PM

can and love to cook


i can work the grill, although when it comes to marinades/rubs/spices i'm much more of a minimalist, especially with steaks. I like the flavor of steak itself. A good steak shouldn't need marinades or A1. Of course I also follow the rule of 'don't mess with the guy who's grilling'. If you buy the meets and do the grilling, make it how you want, I won't complain and most of the time I'll like it too because i'm not picky


It gets on my nerves when I buy steak, invite friends over, then someone who isn't even cooking or paid for the food is telling me how to prepare the meat. Not like rare/medium/well done, but like 'you gotta throw in these spices and tenderize it and let it soak in this sauce for 4 hours....Seriously, when you get the food, I won't say a word.


I also like to bake (no im not gay)

1/6/2010 9:41:52 PM

^makes bad ass brownies

1/6/2010 9:44:19 PM

standing rib roast, pot roast, mushroom steak, and filet

yeah... we like beef here

yeah we actually go through an entire beef loin between my mish and i per month... thats like filet twice a week!!

[Edited on January 6, 2010 at 9:45 PM. Reason : .]

1/6/2010 9:44:25 PM

hahaha


I cook most days during the week. Pick up my shit at the grocery store on sunday for the week ahead...

as for steaks...

I usually just put a bit of worcestershire sauce in a big plastic ziploc, season the steaks with a little salt, pepper, and steak seasoning. Put the steaks in the bag, run a sink full of water, put the bag in the water & submerge (opening side up), and remove the air, zip the bag. let that cool out for a little while in the fridge. cook to medium.

or

brush steaks with olive oil, sprinkle on steak seasoning, then sear each side of the steak in a pan. Once a nice little crust develops, I bake them for about 15 or 20 minutes to medium.


as lame as it is... I usually eat my steaks with a baked potato. Not cause I can't make anything different... I just fucking love steak and potatoes

1/6/2010 9:48:17 PM

Quote :

"^makes bad ass brownies "

that was not directed toward me but it should have been. my rolo brownies are the bomb and everyone who has ever had them says they are AMAZING!

1/6/2010 9:53:17 PM

yea i make some mean brownies/muffins/cookies

alas only one twwer has ever had them.... but i will bake for anyone that wants to stop by

1/6/2010 9:54:39 PM

I love cooking

I usually make some sort of Italian or Thai or Chinese food. Depends on what's on sale at the supermarket. In the winter I make a lot of soup. In the summer lots of couscous and salads. And I love to bake, but don't do it much.

My mommy taught me to cook She used to do catering.

I want to learn have to make shit like stuffed grape leaves. Probably not difficult but I've never taken the time to look it up.

1/6/2010 9:56:31 PM

^^^you never made me brownies

^^k ill be there this weekend

1/6/2010 10:09:14 PM

I enjoy cooking, though I don't cook all that often because my lovely girlfriend is a MUCH better cook than me. When I do cook though:

-favorites are chili, pasta w/various sauces (tonight's was a smoked salmon & mushroom cream sauce), chicken marsala, and/or a good steak. Also most of my dabbling with cooking fish has worked out well.

-learned from a bunch of places--a little from the parents, a little from food network, a little from experimentation, and I've picked up a lot of skills from my girlfriend since we've been together.

-I would enjoy honing my skills on more ethnic cuisines (indian, japanese, etc.) and beefing up my technical knowledge. Some of the things serious cooks/chefs can do without even thinking boggles my mind, like knowing how done a piece of meat is just by touching it. Also would like to learn more about baking.

1/6/2010 10:18:08 PM

Been cooking for a long time but just started "real" cooking

- Cook - Mediterranian, Encrusted/stuffed chicken, homemade pasta w/ sauce (cream sauces mostly), different salads (arugula, spinach, etc) , Pan seared filet with tomatoes and potatoes, Chicken Paillard w/ Parmesan dressing arugula salad, Penne gorganzola...
- Self and Google taught. Also like Tyler's Ultimate on food network for good jumping off ideas.
- 1. Baking - don't like sweets so it's hard to be interested in but know I need to learn. 2. Have made good pork and tough pork. It is a difficult meat to really master but would like to really be consistent on cooking good pork.

By my critics, my cooking is really good but I feel I have a long way to go.

1/6/2010 10:20:01 PM

I want/need a grill.

1/6/2010 10:23:02 PM

Quote :

"^^^you never made me brownies"

last time i made a bazillion brownies you were out of town and they were gobbled up before you ever got back!

1/6/2010 10:25:14 PM

my take on cooking is its just another chore, not unlike vacuuming the floor or washing the dishes. i do it out of necessity, not because i enjoy doing it.

that being said, i actually ok at it and not afraid of the kitchen. I usually don't get too elaborate. Generally will do something like baked chicken, steamed vegetables and tossed salad, or an asian stir fry with beef, fresh vegetables and rice. every now and then i'll bake cobbler or something. a grill is more trouble than its worth.

i first learned living at home. both my folks worked and part of after school chores in included fixing dinner.

1/6/2010 11:21:38 PM

- usually some type of stir fry or grill. spaghetti, pad thai, eggrolls, tempura, steaks
- self, mom, talking to other people for recipes
- everything

1/6/2010 11:40:17 PM

Quote :

"I would love to learn how to make thai food well."

I took a cooking class while in Thailand. Definitely helped me learn how to make Thai food well

1/6/2010 11:49:33 PM

Pasta is my old stand by. Usually I make a spicy tomato based pasta.

I buy the Johnsonville Hot Italian Sausage (ground or with casing). If it has the casing I take it off and cook the meat in a deep pot stirring occasionally to break it up a little (no oil needed). While that is cooking I boil the pasta in another pot (adding salt to the water). Once the meat is basically cooked through I put it in a place and then put half and I simmer some spices in the meat oil (red pepper flakes, italian seasoning, salt, pepper whatever you like). If more oil is needed I add olive oil. Then I add half a chopped onion and some chopped garlic to the spicy oil and let the onions get translucent. Once the onions are ready the pasta is usually cooked so I drain it. I re-add the meat to the onion pan. Then I add half of a large can of crushed tomato and some regular pasta sauce in the pan w/ the onions and spices. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If you want a savory taste add some sugar. Then I add the cooked pasta to the meat pot and let it all simmer for a few. If it's too watery I let it cook out. If not watery then I add some. Serve. I mixed in some romano/parmesan/asiago cheese to taste as well.

I kinda learned on my own and watched my parents. You can pick up a lot just watching food tv. I want to learn how to cook more complicated asian/indian foods. I just don't always have the ingredients. I want to be able to cook more meat dishes as well and seafood.

1/6/2010 11:53:16 PM

Thai food might be my best meal ever


I can do pretty much any curry (red, green, masaman)

pad thai too

1/7/2010 1:31:07 AM

Quote :

"BUY THE MEETS"

caught my own spelling error

1/7/2010 1:32:16 AM

i love to cook, i usually spend an hour or two cooking most days. recently I've been trying quebec traditional cuisine (lots of meat pies), and I have also been on an asian inspired kick.

last night i made breaded tofu, lotus root and scallion stirfry with a lemongrass, galanga and coconut cream sauce, stirfried beansprouts and carrots, and keffir lime spiced rice. I also try to make some traditional southern dishes periodically, so a couple nights before that I made chicken fried steak with gravy, red cabbage with a bit of hamhock, and corn pudding.


I have also been making lots of fermented foods over the last month or so: daikon pickles, pickled cucumbers (i have developed a lemon-herb recipe and a sweet shallot pickle recipe), kimchi, and beets. Tonight i had leftover mashed potatoes, leftover ham, ham stock and some oldish leeks, so we had a version of vichyssoise with mini garlic toasts and steamed artichokes.

For the holidays I did a cantonese style roasted duck, purple sweet potato casserole, shitake chestnut dressing and roasted brussels sprouts for christmas, and i made chicken cordon bleu and onion confit for a diner party I had.

Its easy enough to start making some more exotic dinners, you just have to plan ahead and make your list before you go to the store. asian markets are a great place to find unusual produce and seasonings at a reasonable price. Then you just have to be creative with your leftovers. There are tons and tons of recipes that basically require that you start with leftovers. one pot of leftover mashed potatoes got made into potato pancakes, croquettes, and soup, but nobody would have made the potatoes just for those things.

1/7/2010 1:50:08 AM

Hell yeah purple sweet potatoes!

1/7/2010 1:59:41 AM

to me they have a rosey flavor. they are cool but the different flavor is enough to keep me from replacing the orange ones entirely.



i want to do a meal of all blue and purple foods.... eggplants, purple sweet potatoes, purple cabbage, coq au vin? blackberry sorbetto for the intermezzo and a blueberry tart for dessert. maybe a cheese course of blue cheese and purple plums?

1/7/2010 2:12:46 AM

It's actually really good in sweets. That's almost what it's exclusively used for over here.

1/7/2010 3:29:24 AM

I tend to make a lot of simplified "ethnic" dishes. Typically that involves a lot of not-terribly-well-made stir fries, fajitas, and thai stuff. I was once tolerable at deep frying and grilling American food, but the lack of proper equipment in recent years has made me rusty.

I learn from the internet. My brother is an idiot savant at food, and I can't hope to match him. Give that man the most rudimentary supplies, and he will provide a feast every time.

I would like to learn how to make Indian food at all and Thai stuff well. I understand how to make good and authentic Mexican food but I can't reasonably acquire the necessary ingredients, though I'd like to be able to.

1/7/2010 3:34:28 AM

G'boro doesn't have bodegas?

1/7/2010 4:09:14 AM

I cook. I have a few dishes that are pretty much mine that I think are really good. I might break out a recipe book a couple of times per year to try something new, but for the most part I learned just by trial and error. I used to like watching "No Reservations" and, while I didn't take recipes from the show, it was good inspiration and I would use elements from the foods he was eating in my own dishes.

Yesterday I cooked some chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Once they were about 1/2 done I started looking through the cabinet and found some diced tomatoes. Threw those in there. With about an hour left I pulled some spinach leaves out of my salad kit and added those along with a can of pinto beans. It was something I had never cooked before and I didn't use a recipe, but it came out great and every ingredient is healthy IMO.

1/7/2010 9:42:22 AM

I am a vegetarian so the vast majority of what I cook is vegetarian stuff. But I cook a wide variety of things, and I've always had more of a variety in the kinds of food that I eat regularly than any meat-eaters I know because I rarely make the same thing twice. Lately I've been upping my protein so I've been doing more egg dishes and tofu things, though, so I've had a little less variety. I try to make everything as healthy as I can for the most part. I do a lot of ethnic food, Indian, Asian, Mexican, etc.

I taught myself. Nobody in my family cooked, and I wasn't really cool with that, so when I was maybe 10 I started taking an interest in cooking. I'm not really sure how I picked things up, but by the time I was 14 I was cooking Christmas dinner for my whole extended family every year, and I had an article written about me in a local paper when they did a series on kids who cooked. When I started driving, I pretty much became the family cook and did all the meal planning and grocery shopping and cooking for me and my parents.

I want to know how to cook meat better. I don't have a problem with making it, and when I get the occasion to cook for meat-eaters I enjoy it, but since I don't eat it I don't know if it's actually good or if they're just telling me they like it. And even when people have admitted something I've made wasn't awesome they couldn't really tell me what needed to be done differently because none of them knew much about cooking.

1/7/2010 10:04:52 AM

I cook all the time and I love it.

Learned from my moms, but also influenced by celebrity chefs like Alton Brown and Rick Bayless (my fav & brother of Skip).

One of my favorite dishes to make is Fish Tacos. OMG. Fish tacos are the best. I also grill all kinds of things and love making marinades and spices rubs for various meats and veggies. I'm also extremely adept at taking all kinds of leftovers and turning them into something deliciously gourmet.

I would love to learn how to make bread. Not that I think it would be hard, but I've just never taken the time to learn. Cheese too, but that shit is hard to make well, I think.

1/7/2010 10:10:35 AM

I love to cook


I just expanded my cooking range by buying a nice slow cooker/crockpot




next on my list is a big wok

1/7/2010 10:12:30 AM

i havent used my wok in years

i just realized this

i'll use my wok tonight

1/7/2010 10:13:25 AM

when my dad bought a wok, he got a book as a joke

101 ways to wok your cat

1/7/2010 10:14:13 AM

I have to bring a dish for the BCS party tonight

I'm debating between the old reliable Slave Famous Garlic Parmesean Wings, or classing it up with grouper risotto on crusty bread

1/7/2010 10:16:35 AM

double post

double post

[Edited on January 7, 2010 at 10:17 AM. Reason : x]

1/7/2010 10:17:16 AM

grill, bake, stove pretty much everything.

again pretty wide variety from mundane grilled chicken and cake mix cakes to made from scratch molasses cookies and 4 hour marinated cedar plank salmon over charcoal.

mom and chemistry class

the faster i can make it and get it into my stomach the better. i wish i had more time all the time, 36 hour days would make this work.

1/7/2010 10:19:49 AM

wanna get lean?

wanna get ripped?

spend 90 days eating with me

1/7/2010 10:19:57 AM

set em up

1/7/2010 10:20:37 AM