Family Chow Hall

Good Cooks

June 11th, 2008

What makes a good cook?

How do some people gain a reputation as a good (or bad) cook? Does burning toast early in a marriage doom you to a life as a bad cook?

(If you are looking for a recipe, scroll on down to my last post….)

I think there are several factors in making a person a success as a cook (or anything, for that matter.) I’m not listing this in any particular order, you decide which is most important. If you find yourself lacking in one area, it is easy to grow stronger in other areas.

1. Natural-born talent. Whether you’re talking about basketball, public speaking, making friends, or cooking… I think everyone has certain natural, God-given talents. Areas that they are strong in without putting forth a lot of effort. Not that they don’t have to practice and work to be excellent, it just seems to come easier to them than to others. As far as cooking, I think that the picky eater has an advantage here. Picky eaters have a higher sense of what is good and what is yucky. When they get in the kitchen, they don’t want to make what is yucky because they don’t want to eat it.

2. Attitude. If you are convinced that you are bad at something - skiing, painting, etc. - you will be. Our minds are more powerful than we give them credit for. If we have negative images in our head, we will reproduce them with our lives. If all you can picture yourself doing in the kitchen is burning toast, then it is highly likely that’s what will happen. Try watching cooking shows. They’re great for boosting your confidence and putting positive images in your brain.

3. Practice. All professionals practice. Ice skaters, lawyers, chefs. Success does not come when you fall to the ground and stay there. It comes when you pick yourself back up. When all else fails, try, try again. As Winston Churchill said, “Never give up!” Failure can be one of the best learning tools around. I mean, really, how many times in a row can a person burn toast? Eventually you will get it right.

4. Encouragement. You need a cheering section. Look at football - they’ve got cheerleader and bands urging them on. My husband and kids are great at this. Not only do they devour almost everything I make, they make light of small failures. We never give up and order pizza. My father-in-law, when presented with food that is not-quite-perfect, usually says, “Well, I guess I’ll just have to eat it,” and then cleans his plate. This may seem out of your control, but you can even be your own cheering section. Think to yourself, “Hooray! I did it!”

5. Good Company. Car salesman, dentists, parents hang out together. They trade secrets, they encourage each other. They share problems and help one another solve them. Surround yourself with people who are successful and some of it just may rub off.

If you ever think you’re a bad cook (or anything), work on a couple of these areas and watch yourself succeed!

Entry Filed under: Mixed bag, Most Popular Posts, Philosophy