who do you cook with?

[kimpossible]

Do you cook with your parents or a significant other? What traditions are handed down by learning to cook? Does it build intimacy or hold a cultural significance?

[nonamerasian]

I messed up preparing corned beef some time ago and my mom got pissed at my lack of skills, so I have cooking lessons with her on Sundays now.

My neices LOVE to cook, so sometimes I cook with them, too. But not often.

With the girls, the maternal grandmother of two of them was one of those people who expressed her love through cooking for people. Like Big Mama on Soul Food. She's died, but I think that they now use cooking, especially baking, to feel like they are retaining their bond with her. So cooking with them is special.

Sundays with mom is tolerable. She's been trying to teach me words for foods and different techniques. I guess if I was a good student, Sunday cooking would have a cultural significance.

[TB4000]

I cook alone, like my father and his father before him. Too many spoil the soup, as it were.

[bigwong235]

I cook alone, like my father and his father before him. Too many spoil the soup, as it were.

word. same here.

[applehead]

when i was younger i would always hang out
in the kitchen and ask questions but my mom
said i'll be spending enough time in there when
i'd get older and she would alway shoo me out.
but as i got older i'd sit on a chair and she'd
tell me how to make this or that.

i like cooking alone. i don't like it when people
do things wrong. i get all antsy. i wish i wasn't
so anal.
but i'd like to spend more time in the kitchen
with my children when i have some of my own.
and have special family recipes and such.
i think of the kitchen as the most important
part of a house. (pats my tummy lol)
i want to create fond memories for my children
involving food and cooking.

[sandra]

my paternal grandmother. she likes to teach people, but it's never hands-on. she'll just let me watch and give me little tasks to do while she lectures. her dishes and soups are actually very difficult to learn - moreso b/c i just learn by watching and listening and not actually doing it myself. i usually catch about half of it and make the rest up using trial and error on my own.

my paternal grandfather used to teach me how to do little things - like beat eggs and cook egg dishes when i first moved into my college dorms. those were bonding moments. he has since passed away.

i call my maternal grandparents and parents for advice on recipes - for chinese as well as american dishes.