Is Cooking In The Genes?
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
June 30, 2011 11:45am CST
I've just put a couple of Holland's Pies in the oven.
Now, I like pies but not as much as my husband does. If it were down to him he'd eat them (and other bad things) every day. Our fish tends to be processed too but I want to get away from all that sh*t but it's getting motivated that's the problem. We're in a rut that way and we go into automatic mode with our trolley..keep picking up the same cr*p each time, with little variation.
We've got into white meat more, such as pork and chicken and I love cooking both BUT I'm hopeless with vegetables. The most adventurous I get are carrots now and again along with frozen garden peas and boiled potatoes (sometimes mashed). Far too often we end up buying processed food in boxes and I know - deep down, it's bad for us but it's John who has the money, not me so I don't want to dictate too much what we eat...I've done enough already believe it or not (he eats hardly anything when I'm at Mum's) and it annoys me that he thinks of the money before anything else, as it's his health too isn't it?
Do you think eating food the more convenient way is unwise considering I'm overweight and don't actually LIKE processed food that much? Do you think food prepared and cooked from scratch has fewer calories in it? If so why do supermarkets stock all this convenience food, it makes no sense?
The thing is..we're off to Morrisons at some point in the next couple of days as supplies of food in the freezer are very low. I really want to get away from the processed stuff and try to get John to buy things like pastry sheets, plain flour, eggs, etc, etc. Once all that is bought it should last a while shouldn't it? Where do I start? What are your cooking "staples" so to speak? I do use onion granules as I can't stand real onions..it's just me!! An example of my fussiness right there!
I do have a really ace Dairy Recipe book that I've had for years but I've only used it (mainly) for cakes!! It mentions regional food from around the UK and it has recipes like Beef Wellington in there...that I've never even eaten. I may even try to make things with nuts, etc, to cut down on our meat intake but I don't know where to start!
I would really like to cook more like my Mum does. She works and still manages to create something brilliant (and John loves Mum's food) so I shouldn't have an excuse being in the house most of the time. I've certainly got a lot of time on my hands!
What do you think price-wise? Would it cost way too much to get all the ingredients in from scratch?
Obviously, I don't want to just make pies although I'd really like to bake a cheese flan at some point. Mum's are yummy!
Do you think cooking is in the genes? I do!
Now, I like pies but not as much as my husband does. If it were down to him he'd eat them (and other bad things) every day. Our fish tends to be processed too but I want to get away from all that sh*t but it's getting motivated that's the problem. We're in a rut that way and we go into automatic mode with our trolley..keep picking up the same cr*p each time, with little variation.
We've got into white meat more, such as pork and chicken and I love cooking both BUT I'm hopeless with vegetables. The most adventurous I get are carrots now and again along with frozen garden peas and boiled potatoes (sometimes mashed). Far too often we end up buying processed food in boxes and I know - deep down, it's bad for us but it's John who has the money, not me so I don't want to dictate too much what we eat...I've done enough already believe it or not (he eats hardly anything when I'm at Mum's) and it annoys me that he thinks of the money before anything else, as it's his health too isn't it?
Do you think eating food the more convenient way is unwise considering I'm overweight and don't actually LIKE processed food that much? Do you think food prepared and cooked from scratch has fewer calories in it? If so why do supermarkets stock all this convenience food, it makes no sense?
The thing is..we're off to Morrisons at some point in the next couple of days as supplies of food in the freezer are very low. I really want to get away from the processed stuff and try to get John to buy things like pastry sheets, plain flour, eggs, etc, etc. Once all that is bought it should last a while shouldn't it? Where do I start? What are your cooking "staples" so to speak? I do use onion granules as I can't stand real onions..it's just me!! An example of my fussiness right there!
I do have a really ace Dairy Recipe book that I've had for years but I've only used it (mainly) for cakes!! It mentions regional food from around the UK and it has recipes like Beef Wellington in there...that I've never even eaten. I may even try to make things with nuts, etc, to cut down on our meat intake but I don't know where to start!
I would really like to cook more like my Mum does. She works and still manages to create something brilliant (and John loves Mum's food) so I shouldn't have an excuse being in the house most of the time. I've certainly got a lot of time on my hands!
What do you think price-wise? Would it cost way too much to get all the ingredients in from scratch?
Obviously, I don't want to just make pies although I'd really like to bake a cheese flan at some point. Mum's are yummy!
Do you think cooking is in the genes? I do!3 people like this
18 responses
@SilverVixen (284)
• United States
30 Jun 11
I think it is. My dad is a cajun and loves to cook. I guess I take after him because I could spend hours coming up with new recipes in my kitchen. And my husband cannot cook. At all. He doesn't even make noodles right.lol and his parents couldn't cook either. So yes, I believe it has something to do with genes or the way people are raised.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
30 Jun 11
Hubby will make similar things to me but all it takes is slapping something in the oven and on the hob..and he couldn't manage it when I was visiting Mum, which annoyed me somewhat..but that's blokes for you..well, SOME blokes!
1 person likes this
@SilverVixen (284)
• United States
1 Jul 11
I know the feeling. When I finally get the chance to sleep in, the one thing I ask my husband to do is to cook our son something to eat. It can be oatmeal, eggs, something easy for breakfast. But no, our son gets chicken nuggets.lol or popcorn, that's what he's been fixing lately. Both you just stick in the microwave and wait. But at least this way I won't worry about him burning down the house. And he did catch a pan of oil on fire once. Just heating it up, my butt.
@sanjay91422 (2725)
• India
30 Jun 11
Sorry but I didn't read your whole discussion but I read the topic and I agree with the line that cooking is in the genes. I have seen that when the mother or the father is a good cook the children are also good at cooking.
They are interested in cooking from the childhood. It is true for sure. Thanks and have a nice day.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
30 Jun 11
You should read the whole discussion as it doesn't make sense otherwise lol.
@sanjay91422 (2725)
• India
2 Jul 11
I think you have a lot of patience to write the long posts. I have seen that you post a lot in cooking, that means you love the cooking. I am an impatient person right now. I will read it later. Sorry no offence, maybe I am a lazy person. Thanks.
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
30 Jun 11
I don't know what Holland Pies are,but we do like out pies and cakes as well as cookies, but I do make a lot of that from scratch. I actually make a lot of foods from scratch.
I think that if you have been raised in a home where you have eaten foods made from scratch then it is hard to eat processed foods. I wish you the best is talking to John and explaining this to him. I think in the end you will save money.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
30 Jun 11
Holland Pies are a brand name that have been going for a long time here in the UK. I guess they use poorer ingredients than they used to, though.
@BarBaraPrz (45487)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
30 Jun 11
What do I think?
I think you defer too much to John.
Buy whatever food you want, girl, he'll eat it if he's hungry.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
30 Jun 11
When I was getting the pies out the oven I told John I was worried about the cr*p we were eating. The trouble is, we can't come up with any alternatives. Perhaps we just need to troll round the supermarket and get inspired.
1 person likes this
@asyria51 (2861)
• United States
1 Jul 11
If it is in the genes, it skipped my generation. Mom and grandma were both pretty good cooks. Mom's skills kind of stagnated due to picky children (I will fess up to this part of it). I can put together a meal without burning anything, but am not a truly good cook. Part of it is lack of interest added to a lack of time to really try something new. I stick with my 15 or so things that I make regularly, and rarely branch out or add to the collection.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16534)
• China
1 Jul 11
As you have known,I have been retired so I have plenty of time on my hands too.However,the programme is packed every day.Every morning,take half an hour's exercise,do some housework such as heating up water,sweep the floor,Playing ERHU(have mentioned before)from 10am to 11am.Play computer every afternoon.I get lunch every day as a rule.My cooking level is not bad,because I began to cook by age 9.Our staple food is cooked rice,as to dish,we take stir-fry,boil as main method ,seldom bake and the like and they are mainly vegetables .We hardly buy the food in the freezer .We like to cook from scratch,this way we can rest assured to eat.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
2 Jul 11
I bet you're not overweight are you my friend?
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16534)
• China
2 Jul 11
No!I am 176 centimetres in height and weigh 80 kg.Look at my avatar please,My granddaughter is playing the erhu.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
2 Jul 11
I wish it were in the genes...sadly, I don't think it is.
My mom's a wonderful cook but I'm nowhere close...and most days I am bored by the regular cooking. Some days I get in the mood and I want to cook something special or exotic using lots of herbs or spices.
A staple for Indian cooking (except for certain communities which do not use onions or garlic in their dishes) are onions, garlic, ginger and tomato....curry leaves and coriander leaves. And most of us stock turmeric powder, chilli powder and coriander powder for daily cooking.
Most Indian homes prefer to cook from scratch and processed food has just made an entry into the market in the last couple of years.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
2 Jul 11
Beware of fast food chains..do you have them yet? They've ruined our high street, which is why we have to travel a fair way to buy kitchen essentials. It also explains why there are so many obsese people in the UK now. When I grew up in the 70s fast food was rare but now it's commonplace, so it's no wonder cooking has taken a back seat, so to speak. I do cook but - in the past I would use pre-packed food such as fish in breadcrumbs, that type of thing, rather than making it myself. I was finding the taste was becoming rather bland, hence the change.
@maean_19 (4655)
• Philippines
5 Jul 11
I believe so. My grandparents are good cooks and so does my parents and siblings. But, I am not a kitchen person, though I love to eat. Since I live alone and independent, I was forced to cook for myself. I believe it is in the genes because even when I do not cook a lot at my hometown, I can already cook foods for my friends every time they come to my apartment and they always give me a good remarks with the foods I prepare.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
5 Jul 11
I'd love to cook for guests..once the house is done up.
@LadyDulce (830)
• United States
2 Jul 11
No cooking ability is a learned skill, although if you helped your cooking parent as a child, there's a good chance you picked up the basics. Food from scratch is much cheaper in the long run (not counting the cost of potential medical bills!). Shop in season and on sale - buy whatever produce is flourishing at the moment or frozen. Look also at ingredient lists. If there's more than a handful of ingredients you don't recognize (or that sound plain ol' scary), don't get it. Things like flour and sugar can be bought in bulk, especially since flour keeps very well in the freezer. It helps to make a list well before you go to the grocer's and stick to the list. I love pies, especially "leftover" pie. Just chop or mince all of your leftovers, meats, veggies, some spices and seasoning and dump it all in a pie crust, either store bought or home made. Pop it in the oven after an egg wash for the crust and you've got a great, filling, healthier dinner. Or breakfast... Experiment with recipes in small batches and as you become more comfortable in the kitchen, you'll be able to eyeball your amounts. I don't measure either, but I already know how my food should feel, look, and taste.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
2 Jul 11
Thanks for those suggestions. It's interesting that comment you made about if I don't recognise an ingredient then don't buy it...that's so true of our shopping trip earlier. Therefore, the ingredients bought for my Garlic Chicken were foods I knew beforehand I'd like..and I have eaten various sauces outside the home and enjoyed them. Makes a change from gravy, that's for sure!
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
30 Jun 11
The thing about ready made meals is that they take all the sweat out of making them. Just pop them in whatever your oven of choice is and "Hey Presto" you have a meal. However, is making a meal from scratch that difficult? Since I started my lifestyle change I have largely shunned anuthing that comes pre-prepared in a packet. I have had a trip to the coast twice in the past 2 months to eat fish and chips! But otherwise my diet is fresh, green and lean. I don't get hungry because I eat more often but less. Supper tonight was a variation on an italian recipe forSpaghetti with raw tomatoes and peppers. I susbtituted the spaghetti with rice noodles (£1) and added strips of smoked salmon (buy offcuts and they cost around £2 plus will last for at least one more meal) and the tomatoes and peppers (around £2.50 but again will last for more than one meal). Add some basil and olive oil (more expensive than opther oils but you use less and it tastes better. The whole lot took about 10 minutes from fridge to plate. Hollands pies are on special offer at Morrisons - £1.24 for 4 (frozen). So that's 62p for each of you plus whatever you have with it. Chips or other potatoes probably, plus veg. All in I doubt that there was much difference between my meal and yours. I think that cooking healthily is a state of mind. Firstly you have to WANT to do it and for a reason. Mine is simple - I have seen the inside of a cardiac unit from the patient's perspective and I don't want to see it again! But most people have a less dramatic reason for eating properly and well. Start small. Make a couple of days a week days that you make your supper. Don't go wild, buy a good supper book from a supermarket (Tesco sells them for £3 and I expect that Morrsions does too). Think of a dish that you have enjoyed - perhaps on holiday. Try to copy it. Don't worry if you don't have some of the lesser ingredients - in fact that allows you to experiment. We are always being told to eat "5 a day". That is much easier than you think. Try steaming your vegetables - they taste yummy and are better for you. Use frozen veg if you wish- they are flash frozen and often retain more of the vitamins and minerals than fresh raw vegetables and are easier to prepare. Although nothing tatses as good as veg straight from the garden. Is cooking in the genes. I don't think so. I think that if you enjoy yourself in the kitchen then you will want to do more and learn new things. Have fun and tell us how you've done.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
30 Jun 11
I'm hungry now lol!
Seriously though, what you said there is so right. It is a state of mind isn't it? I mean, John's parents eat terrible food, I can tell and they've always got something wrong with them. Continually feeding their faces and I don't want John to get like that. Mum, on the other hand, is lean and cooks proper food, compared to me but that is something she does in her job too..cooks. So she can prepare, cook and serve something in the time it takes me to slice a bit of veg lol. Incidentally, we do have a steamer and it's brilliant. Not too big either so ideal for cutting down portions!!
That is a great suggestion about books. I'd forgotten about that and no doubt Morrison's have them. In the meantime I'm gonna do a spot of googling! And yes, I will let you know how I get on. My kitchen is the most modern (and favouite) part of the house and it's about time I utilised it better.
@GemmaR (8517)
•
30 Jun 11
I cannot be sure whether cooking is in the genes or not because my Dad is fabulous at cooking, but my Mum prefers not to. I am not a very good cook, but I cannot say whether it is in the genes or not because I am a product of both sides of the genes. I think that if you are a good cook, you are more likely to pass your cooking skills to their children, because they can teach their child how to cook whereas if you're not good then you wouldn't bother. It might be more to do with that rather than actually being in the genes.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
30 Jun 11
That's very well-thought out and thank you! Mum is a great cook but she does make a mess, whereas I'm more organised and wash up as I go along. However, she's so quick at rustling up something in only a few minutes it's all been a blur and I haven't learned anything..this is why I have to learn again as I'm 100 miles away from her now.
@anklesmash (1412)
•
3 Jul 11
Most people in this discussion have said how much better their mums are at cooking than them in our house im probably as good however our cooking talents lie in different areas me being better at deserts for example i made a blackcurrant crumble the other day and she said she couldnt do as good as a job.Though i do have to look at recipes but so does mum,i however use them more as a guide and am more adventurous about alterations.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
3 Jul 11
I love crumbles! Years ago I made a wicked apple crumble on occasions and I shall do so again one day..and it's great that you can pick whatever fruit is in season..not just apples. The blackcurrant one sounds awesome and I bet the smell was too!
@NoWayRo (1061)
• Romania
1 Jul 11
I'm amazed how many people said cooking is not transmissible genetically. I'm shocked. 
I am living proof that cooking is in the genes. Both grandmother and mother were great cooks, and I was fast food generation until I turned 30. I was living alone, and my friends mocked me because my refrigerator contained only cat food, vodka and ketchup. When I invited people over, I always ordered food (cooking by phone, I called it).
And then I had to move in with my father and my grandfather to take care of them. They're both used to home cooking, from scratch, so I started doing that. And everything fell into place suddenly.
I agree with MagicalBubbles about Jamie Oliver - just yesterday I made 5 courses (big meal, 12 people for dinner ) all based on his recipes, and all were huge hits. You don't have to look at him 
, but his recipes are great for beginners.
There was also once a show on BBC called "Ready, steady, cook". Each recipe took 20 mins or less and had very few ingredients - also great if you're just starting in the kitchen. Maybe you can find some episodes on YouTube or on DVD somewhere.
Long story short - I'm now a huge fan of home cooking. It's cheaper, way healthier, and it can even be fun. Now all my co-workers are chipping in and I make lunch for everybody and bring it in the office. We're all making big, big savings with that, and everybody gets to eat their favorite meal at least once a month.
I am living proof that cooking is in the genes. Both grandmother and mother were great cooks, and I was fast food generation until I turned 30. I was living alone, and my friends mocked me because my refrigerator contained only cat food, vodka and ketchup. When I invited people over, I always ordered food (cooking by phone, I called it).
And then I had to move in with my father and my grandfather to take care of them. They're both used to home cooking, from scratch, so I started doing that. And everything fell into place suddenly.
I agree with MagicalBubbles about Jamie Oliver - just yesterday I made 5 courses (big meal, 12 people for dinner ) all based on his recipes, and all were huge hits. You don't have to look at him , but his recipes are great for beginners.
There was also once a show on BBC called "Ready, steady, cook". Each recipe took 20 mins or less and had very few ingredients - also great if you're just starting in the kitchen. Maybe you can find some episodes on YouTube or on DVD somewhere.
Long story short - I'm now a huge fan of home cooking. It's cheaper, way healthier, and it can even be fun. Now all my co-workers are chipping in and I make lunch for everybody and bring it in the office. We're all making big, big savings with that, and everybody gets to eat their favorite meal at least once a month. @Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
2 Jul 11
The reason I've "gone off" Jamie Oliver is that he's interfered in what Mum does i.e. cooking for kids at school. It's all well and good for him to spout his ideas at posher schools but for Mum's school...well, forget it. For months now she's had to incorporate healthier options for them, based on what Jamie has recommended..and none of the kids eat it half the time. There isn't a choice either, just one menu each day (which is set to change I think) and it pains her to throw away food every day that gets mushed up into something..I dunno, it doesn't go to landfill anyway, I know that.
Apart from that he's great!
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
1 Jul 11
Well in essence cooking form scratch is always healthier. Boxed foods and frozen food are all processed and have tons of Sodium and sugar as preservatives. That stuff will shorten out life span. Is it cheaper to cook healthy? Not really. But I try to get fresh vegetables but wind up buying frozen. They are always on sale. I do buy lots of chicken and pork and fish. Those are real healthy. I am a diabetic so I cannot have carbs or sugar, and since I have mostly a diet made up of protein, I off set that with lots of vegetables. I love Broccoli, Cauliflower, String Beans, Spinach and carrots. I cannot have potato's or peas since potato's are all carbs and peas have tons of sugar in them. So I try to eat as healthy as possible. Sometimes you have to spend a little more to eat better.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
2 Jul 11
Well, I have my newly-formed shopping list and recipes to try out so I shall let you all know how I get on!
Can you get Bird's Eye Frozen Peas over there? Awesome peas, they really are but grown in the UK (mainly) so maybe not..
Out of your little list there I would eat carrots and potatoes but they're only mega-fattening if you put butter on them. I tend to go a bit overboard whenever I do mash but I'm learning..gradually.
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
30 Jun 11
Hubby and I both have good cooks in our background. We can both cook, but not everything we cook is the healthiest. I know what we eat is healthier than what I fed my kids when I was working. Lots of breaded and processed foods. Side foods that I rely on are potatoes, cooked whole in their skins, brown rice and lots of beans, preferably from scratch. Do not look to me for weight loss, though, because I like food. I have some easy things that I do using a baking mix. Vegetables are still the best thing for us, but we do not eat enough ourselves. Stores sell what people are willing to buy. An interesting book I just read says basically that Americans did not really become overweight until all the packaged and prepared foods showed up in the stores. Yes, you are at home and you can do some more cooking and actually costs less in the long run.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
30 Jun 11
I don't suppose the Fast Food Outlets have done us any favours either have they? You'd be hard pressed to find a grocers round here. I would love to walk down the street and look round one but we don't have them. The market is too far to walk to on my own and to walk back with heavy bags. This is the reason why we do our main shop in a supermarket (as most Brits do) but it's not as much fun.
Having said that, though, Morrison's does have a fish counter to re-create the fishmonger's we used to have in the past. If I find any fish that's reasonable (or, better still, a great recipe I can try out) we shall get some.
I'm determined to cut out the processed food.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
30 Jun 11
Not necessarily in the gene pool...I like to cook from scratch when I have company...but for me who lives alone it cost way too much to get much fresh stuff as I don't eat it quick enough and end up pitching alot of it. Good luck with your cooking adventures. I bet once you get the hang of it you'll both enjoy it!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
30 Jun 11
I'm going to start Googling some recipes, then we can go out and buy the ingredients that go in them. Maybe have a weekly menu drawn up and mix it up now and again..plus I might bake to give hubby a surprise after his long day at work. The possibilities are endless but I must keep a lid on the amount of stuff we buy, otherwise John will end up blowing all his monthly wages in a food shop. That wouldn't be wise!
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Jun 11
hi nope not in the genes just takes some practice and trying out stuff.
I think for myself it was a mixture of scratch and ready made but as I am a diabetic I always try to eat food that was good for me lots of veggies and fresh fruit and yes I used frozen veggies as actually they are frozen at the freshest part of their season and a lot of fresh veggies in the produce aisles are not all that fresh.in our stores here we do get a lot of really fresh produce from Irvine farms as the Irvine family are multimillionaires who own most of Orange county.Their produce is good and prices are reasonable. I use recipes from American Diabetes Association.org and they are realy good too. bu t here now I do not get to 
do my own cooking so have to eat what is givne me but I refuse any sweet desserts and too much pasta too I have to think of my own health. I have now got the care servers to think diabetes and substitute something I can eat for what I should not and that really helps.
do my own cooking so have to eat what is givne me but I refuse any sweet desserts and too much pasta too I have to think of my own health. I have now got the care servers to think diabetes and substitute something I can eat for what I should not and that really helps.@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
30 Jun 11
It's good that you have the care servers to ensure you don't eat the wrong things. You have more willpower than I do my friend!
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
30 Jun 11
We both cook at home and mostly from scratch, if it were completely up to my boyfriend he would never purchase any type of processed foods. I have been cooking since I was 11, therefore, I feel it is in my genes. lol
I do enjoy it much more then the processed foods. Does it cost more, yes I do believe it does but, and there is a but, there is more value out of the cooking from scratch because we purchase enough of them where we create more then one meal out of them. Whereas processed food for me, seems to be only for one sitting. So in the long run it is more for the money.
