quote:

Originally posted by architect:

quote:

How to suggest cooking courses to a future wife?

Without guaranteeing that she becomes the ex-future wife?

or the future ex-wife

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
For those who don’t know me, I make a living, more or less, as a cook.

She said she wants to start cooking breakfast.

Prices for breakfast only went nuts, recently. Usually, you could get bacon, eggs, coffee and potatoes for only a couple dollars more than you could cook them at home.

(I also have Celiacs.)

one of us should start a thread on GF cooking,


a lot of folks think GF is a fad diet, but for some, it is not,


I'm still old school, when it comes to GF baking,
as in, despite the advances in GF flour mixes etc, as in box mixes and 1:1 alternatives, I still find the older recipies work better for most pie crust and definately cakes,

as in I use Bette Hagman's (RIP) Featherlight Cake recipe, and her Vinegar Pastry pie crust for most things,


I have learned to cut the amount of Xanthum gum a bit,

and prefer to use the replacement flours (1:1 types) that have no Xantum gum in them, since the gum can make things a bit,,, gummy

Upon further reflection, I realize I was too harsh, Ryanp225. I stand by the point I was making, but the ambush was uncalled for, so you have my apology.

"The World's Healthiest Foods: Essential Guide for the Healthiest Way of Eating" by George Mateljan is one of the best overall books on cooking....over 800 pages. Used copies on ebay are less than $10.

As others have said. Make a night of it and do a couples cooking class.

quote:

Originally posted by Ryanp225:
Why are you apprehensive about offering to teach her?

It can be difficult to teach people a skill, they feel they should have.

Young servicemen can have a very difficult time in their first shooting matches, etc.

To make things more complicated, I have worked in kitchens/food plant my entire adult life. When I cook, I am in a perfectionist mindset, which is very focused on quality, and efficiency.

Young men in the plant/a kitchen expect to be barked at/given the scut work, while they are taught to work.

Yes, I would probably be forgiven for treating her like the FNF, sorta - and she would learn to cook - but the risk of hurting our relationship/stressing her far outweighs whatever benefits would come from it.

If you have not yet educated yourself, and your future wife, about Jacques Pepin then you are not a man.

I assuming that you haven’t so I encourage you to use YouTube.

I'd suggest you buy her dinner.

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:

quote:

Originally posted by Ryanp225:
Why are you apprehensive about offering to teach her?

It can be difficult to teach people a skill, they feel they should have.

Young servicemen can have a very difficult time in their first shooting matches, etc.

To make things more complicated, I have worked in kitchens/food plant my entire adult life. When I cook, I am in a perfectionist mindset, which is very focused on quality, and efficiency.

Young men in the plant/a kitchen expect to be barked at/given the scut work, while they are taught to work.

Yes, I would probably be forgiven for treating her like the FNF, sorta - and she would learn to cook - but the risk of hurting our relationship/stressing her far outweighs whatever benefits would come from it.

I taught my wife to fly. Somehow, the relationship survived that. After that experience, I did not attempt to teach her to shoot. (Thanks Flork & OpSpec)

There is usually a different relationship between a student and a teacher than there is between mates. I think you are wise to not chance it.

FNF? “Fine” New Fellow? “Fine” New Flunky? Something else?

Given your background you may want to step gingerly into this, as others have pointed out, if you're well versed in a skill and attempting to teach/instruct that skill to a spouse/partner, it can go...not as smoothly as if it was done with somebody else as the instructor.

I had a gf that was in a similar boat, she knew nothing about the kitchen but, was eager to learn. Since I was living in her place, I got her some solid basic tools...chef knife, bread knife, functional spatulas (not the cute-shitty seasonal ones at home stores), proper pans, pots with lids, a couple of sheet pans. Spent about $500 to get her some basics; Home Goods/Ross/TJ Maxx are good starting places to pick-up decent kitchen items. We took a couple of cooking courses together at the local upscale market, it helped stimulate her interests, kept the relationship lively however, after a month, her interest was more into baking rather than cooking.
She took a few more courses, more so around baking and she actually got quite good at it. She went through a couple of solid cook books to include a number of America's Test Kitchen books, realized celebrity cookbooks are worthless and the ones with glossy pictures are also worthless. She got good enough she started tackling the Tartine cookbooks which, if you're into baking, get progressively more complex since they're geared for the professional. Fresh, hot, home made morning buns in the mornings....

Any case, start slow, be patient and make sure you give her room to make mistakes.

Who isn’t aware of Jacques Pepin?

FNF was a typo for FNG - (“F—-ing New Guy”), though I kind of like “Fine New Fellow”

Sounds like Corsair has it nailed, along with some of the other posters. I’m mildly confused, because if she knows your skill set, I would think she would defer to you quite happily. I certainly would just because I would expect that you would be someone I could learn great things from.
So maybe a together cooking course would drive you nuts? I think it could be tons of fun- as long as it wasn’t too complex or daunting. I am curious, though: if you are such a good cook, why does she need to know how?
Btw x0225, I love Jacques Pepin as well.. everything I’ve watched of his has been simple and tastes great.

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
Who isn’t aware of Jacques Pepin?

FNF was a typo for FNG - (“F—-ing New Guy”), though I kind of like “Fine New Fellow”

Seriously…Jacques Pepin is incredible. Everything is simple, quick and delicious. He has a very interesting history and life. We just discovered him ourselves earlier this year when the Gods of YouTube put him in our feed one day.

I suggest you make something together while following Jacques’s video. It will be time well spent.

Search around your area for cooking classes. Then buy her one as a gift. Maybe pair it with a nice kitchen knife.

They come in several varieties
- 1 off class that teaches a specific dish
- introduction classes, Intro to Baking, Beef, Fish, etc...
- using & care of kitchen knives
- Full-on courses.

Sur La Table offers in-store classes as well as online classes. Here is a link to on-line classesto get you started.

Also, search youtube for introductions to cooking etc...

quote:

Originally posted by Aglifter:
Who isn’t aware of Jacques Pepin?

Jacques Pépin Complete Techniques should be apart of any person's cookbook collection, even if you're only moderately interested or, skilled in cooking. An exceptional resource for the home collection.

Thank you. I bought the book

The classes are a good idea, and even better if you both attend. With caveat that you'll have to remember to just take it in and have fun with the future Mrs., not try to be the instructor....

Lots of great advice here. I would try several of these suggestions to see which works. I love the Chef Jean-Pierre! He has videos on veggie prep, knives, sauces, ect. When you pick a video, it’s set up so you can print the ingredients and prepare first. Veggies prepped, spices pre measured, so when you start cooking, it’s easy to follow the video.
I think he is in line with Para, as most things he makes, he wants to rub them all over his body!
It’s a lot of fun cooking together. Make sure to discuss the results, note any possible changes you’d like, and make it again soon. As the chef states, make your dish!

I strongly agree with prior suggestions of doing things together. Most importantly, let her learn at her own pace. She will need to own her achievements, not be pushed into them.

Married over 30 years. I can tell you what NOT to do....

About 5th year of marriage, wife makes her family's awesome apple pie.
She pushed me for my opinion, as in wanting reassurance that she did a good job.

My young and dumb self thought a no holds bar response was desired.
My brutal honesty killed her desire to make it again.
25 years later, I had to learn the recipe and do it myself if I wanted it. She wouldn't make it again.



Since she prefers baking. I acknowledge that I'm not that good at it and praise her for being so good. She knows I'm a much better cook, so I end up doing most of the meals. Now we do stuff together. Watching cooking TV shows or videos, or taking a lesson. We know & accept each other's strengths and now I keep my comments pleasant and reassuring.

Take a couple classes first, even take them together, since they're usually pretty fun.

My wife started making meal kits from Home Chef specifically, since you're actually doing knifework and all the other prep, then actually cooking, rather than just reheating premade meal packs. She's learned a ton and has gotten to fancy restaurant level meals. Which is freakin' awesome for me!