Thursday, December 9, 2010

Why Do You Cook?

I was just surfing cooking websites and stumbled upon a 37 step recipe for brandy snaps. Honestly, I sat scrolling through the whole recipe thinking: Who takes the time for this mess?
I mean, seriously, I'm sure they're absolutely delicious, but why would I go to so much trouble? Surely if I had a craving for something delectable I could find something like it at my supermarket and spend 5 minutes on the hunt.
Now, my sister loves to bake so she was a bit more sympathetic towards the cooking-as-a-hobby concept, but I really can't fathom it. I cook because I like to eat. I bake because I like to eat sweets.
It's not fun to me.

Do you like to cook or bake?


10 comments:

Nealy said...

Oh, Ginger! You've just revealed our biggest similarity! I don't like to cook OR bake, but I do love to eat! I have the same thoughts when I read a long, detailed recipe = too much trouble! Are you turning into your mom? Scary, isn't it? ;)

Shannon said...

Ginger, you are soooo funny and transparent. Couldn’t help giggling a bit about your blog this morning.

When I first started cooking, my mom was working at a jewelry store so I fixed dinner. I didn’t like my cooking so I ate something else. Then when I married at 22, I didn’t understand cookbooks (now I know I needed the most basic cookbook that gives lots of details – you know me . . . . I always have lots of questions). As time went on, I liked to cook for company because I could try different recipes . . . not always successful. When I was single again, Whitney liked to cook so she did a lot of the cooking or . . . they would eat over at my mother’s house after school and before I got home from work. But . . . . I loved reading cookbooks as a “hobby.” Now that I’m not working, I have renewed my passion to not only read cookbooks but make new recipes. Whitney has been my inspiration to cook again. She is a fabulous chef and makes some of the best recipes ever. It seems, at least for me, that I have gone through cycles of liking and disliking to cook depending on what’s happening in my life.

MamaMahnken said...

I dislike cooking. I do it because my family has to eat, and I cook (vs nuke something from a can) because my conscience makes me. But if were just me, I would eat cereal and frozen burritos every day. And I ice cream. I DO like to bake though. I don't know why it is different than cooking to me, but it is. I suppose because I DON'T have to do it, and because the result is usually yuumier to my sweet-toothed self. But 37 steps? I'd go shopping too!

Ginger said...

I may have been exaggerating just a tad when I said "37 steps"; but just a tad! ;)

GT said...

I start first thing in the morning thinking about dinner. I take something out of freezer or throw ingredients in crockpot in the morning. Ive found that if I wait for my hunny to call and say hes headed home it'll be too late. I keep it simple and only cook about 10 things with a few variations.My 11 year old daughter loves the kitchen and is starting to cook whole meals, which is very sweet.

MommaofMany said...

I like to cook. I like to make people happy with the things I cook. I love getting compliments on the food I make. In fact, I would feel very strange if I didn't get into the kitchen for at least one meal of the day.

Unknown said...

I do not enjoy the process of cooking or baking. I do, however, enjoy the end result, so that's what keeps me coming back, lol.

And my family has to eat, so that is another reason ;-) But, as another poster mentioned, if it were just me, I would keep it simple. A big pot of soup to eat from for several days would be satisfying enough for me. Simple recipes (10 steps/ingredients or less, lol) are what keeps me sane though.

heartchild said...

I cook because I love to eat food that tastes really good. I also love hearing comments on my food like Momma said above. A positive benefit from spending time in the kitchen is that my kids prefer homemade over pre-packaged or restaurant food. That keeps me motivated.

Midlife Army Wife said...

I love to cook! I love it when Rob and I make meals together in the kitchen. I love having Emily help me cook. I love trying new recipes, and creating things with what we have. Baking is another story though! I have to stick to the recipe and I don't feel comfortable making too many substitutions or experimenting. It's ok though, I haven't run out of recipes that I want to try!

Anonymous said...

I cook because I have to, but I bake because I love to! I love baking!