How Old Were You?

[barbszy]

How old were you when you first learned how to cook? And what were the first dishes you learned to make?

[DeBora4BobbyL]

This is such a good topic Barb! My mother was taught how to cook by my dad so she wasn't too keen on teaching us kids how to cook. I wanted to cook before I can remember. My parents tell everyone that I was begging to cook at 2. They wouldn't allow me to stir, which is what I asked. So, I waited until they were asleep and made a batter of milk, eggs, and flour all over the kitchen floor. (Can you imagine waking up to that?) Once my parents woke up to chocolate cake batter all over them in bed. Finally, between the ages of 10 and 12, she taught me to cook so that I cook for the family of 5 while she worked. I thought I was in heaven!

[ajrsmom]

I think that I started to learn around 8 yrs. old. I took over our family cooking for the most part when I was a teenager --around 15.

[ellenmelon]

I was the prep gal and dishwasher for my mom when we did family meals. From about age 5 on.

[cat lover]

I got my love of cooking from my grandmother. I really didn't get "taught" to cook, but just watching her when I was little made me very anxiousto start cooking. But that didn't really happen until I was married at 18. So my DH became my guiena pig! Didn't do too bad if I do say so myself! I love to cook; now I need to lose weight!:mad: :D

[joyann]

I was probably 8 or 9. I always watched my mother cooking. The first things I learned were biscuits, cornbread and cakes. I liked baking.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I remember learning to make pudding. I got the salt and the sugar mixed up. Well, you can figure out what I did! :D

[apricot]

My mother let my brother and me make chocolate chip oatmeal cookies (my favorite) when I was probably about 5 or 6 but other than that she didn't like me in her kitchen so I didn't really learn to cook until after I got married. DH says I do okay but I don't feel confident cooking for company.

DeBora, Your salt and sugar mix up reminds me of something dh told me he did in Junior High school. They were supposed to make a cake as a science project and he got the flour mixed up with the corn meal. He completed it with white frosting. Of course, he didn't win the prize but everybody ate his corn bread cake, including the teacher!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I don't think children can learn to cook unless they do make mistakes and get comfortable in the kitchen.

[dval]

My first time cooking was in Home Economics in 7th grade. I made cream puffs, macaroni salad, and ambrosia salad. I still make the macaroni salad once in a while. Hubby likes it.
I did a lot better on the cooking in that class than I did on the sewing. Couldn't sew a straight line to save my life!:D

[cat lover]

That reminded me of a day in Home Ec waaaaaay back when I took it! We were making a cherry pie and I poured the salt out of the salt container into the teaspoon RIGHT OVER the bowl we were mixing the filling in and yup, the top fell in the bowl of ingredients along with all the salt in the shaker! Learned real quick don't POUR over the bowl! I had to go back during study hall the next morning and make the WHOLE pie by myself!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Oh my goodness Cat! Pies aren't the easiest thing to make either.

Joy, I like your siggy, except I would make that dark chocolate in one hand and milk chocolate in the other! :D

[LifeStar]

wow... I remember adding pre-measured ingredients and stirring mixes when I was two or three.. I would tear lettuce and other leafy veggies for salad as a toddler too. The first time I was allowed to cook at the stove I was about four. ( I know I was younger than five, because we moved the summer I turned five, and the first cooking I did was at the "old" house.) I made scrambled eggs under adult supervision. I made them every chance I got, till my siblings were sick of eating them, and wouldn't watch me at the stove anymore! lolol..

I was always helping in the kitchen, as far back as I can remember~

[cat lover]

That is pretty neat that you were allowed in the kitchen! We weren't; it was a very strict household and we were" in the way" so we learned early on to stay out. I always went to my grandmothers(she lived next door) and she always let me in the kitchen so that is where I learned to cook just by watching her and helping her. I really miss her!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I understand. I wasn't allowed in the kitchen either. However, my Nana let me do lots of stuff or showed me lots of stuff.

[barbszy]

LOL about the Home Ec mishaps!
My Home Ec teacher was very exasperated with me. I was not in the mood to measure accurately, etc. I still don't, when I cook! When I bake, I do...but in cooking, I usually eyeball it.
I know that she had a purpose in teaching us those skills but either she didn't present it in a good way for me to hear it, or I wasn't ready to hear it. Maybe if she taught us to bake first, I'd have been more receptive!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I was very fortunate in that my Home Ec teacher had known me all my life. She was very good to me. I found it touching that she asked for me when she was dying and I went to visit her.

I am like you Barb in that I don't measure things except for baking. I have to go through a recipe step by step in order to produce a measurable recipe for others to follow.

Well, we are almost ready to leave for Las Cruces. DH is putting stuff in the cars.

[Coll]

The first thing that I remeber cooking was spaghetti. I was about 12. Mom went to work 4pm-midnight. I got dinner ready for dad, me and 2 younger sisters. The older 2 sisters were out of the house by then.
I made up a rule-If I cook the meal you have to do the dishes. My sister Jamie learned to cook real quick. But6 we usually shared the responsibility.

Coll

[tuta]

I guess I was around 10 or so. My mom always worked so I would try to have dinner on when she got home as my dad worked out of town a lot. The very first thing I learned to bake was a banana cake with vanilla frosting and everyone raved about it so I always had to make it for family gatherings. Tuta

[dval]

I guess I was around 10 or so. My mom always worked so I would try to have dinner on when she got home as my dad worked out of town a lot. The very first thing I learned to bake was a banana cake with vanilla frosting and everyone raved about it so I always had to make it for family gatherings. Tuta
Mmmm!
I don't suppose I could convince you to share your recipie....?

[cat lover]

Oh Yes; please do share the banana cake recipe & the frosting! Sounds yummy!

[Coll]

My two oldest kids had the same home ec teacher that I had when I was in Junior High.

Coll

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Coll, did you grow up in a small community?

[cat lover]

My two oldest kids had the same home ec teacher that I had when I was in Junior High.

Coll


That is really a cool thing to have happened! I don't think my teachers were probably even teaching by the time my DS's got to that age! LOL

[Coll]

It was a small community back then, it grew a lot. I started having my kids early.
I imagine that the home ec teacher has retired by now, if not she's due to I'm sure.

Coll

[cat lover]

I guess it is possible that they weren't as old as they seemed to me back then; gosh..maybe they were even in their 50's; LOL; like I am now! LOL

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Cat, are you ready for this? Graham Kerr was 34 when the Galloping Gourmet started! Julia Child was in her 50s in the 60s. I rememeber never missing the Galloping Gourmet every time it was on!

[cat lover]

Oh wow! I remember the Galloping Gourmet when it was a new show! Every now and then I have caught old reruns of it in the middle of the night. Probably on Food Network, but not real sure!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I don't think it's on Foodnetwork, but if you do find out when it's on, please let me know. I would LOVE to see reruns of that show! Oh the memories it would bring back!

[cat lover]

I'll have to "look" around and see if I can find a listing, but here's something that might hold you over for a while!
His new, healthier cooking show, "Swiftly Seasoned" can be seen on your local PBS station.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Cool! Also, if you'll pm me with the email address that you use most, I've got an email that has YOUR name on it! LOL