What is the first REAL cooking you have done? The first time you cooked solo, generally, when you were on your own? I did a lot of cook's assistant to my mother & grandmothers and, when I was in my teens, my mom worked 2nd shift at the hospital so I did most of the cooking. back then, my parents bought nearly everything in a can. it wasn't very appetizing but you ate what you were given! My mom wasn't really much of a cook and still isn't.
For myself, I purchased my first house when I was 22. When I say purchase, I mean it was kind of given to me. it belonged to a dear friend and business partner of my dad's. Rick was my dad's friend. his brother had owned and lived in the house. the brother was a severe alcoholic. that eventually led him to a heart attack and death. because of his Grief, Rick could barely stand to talk about the house, much less put much work into it or keep it. When he heard I was looking for an apartment, he and his wife offered me the house.
A non-qualifying assumable loan (try finding one of THOSE, these days) with PITI payments that were about half the rent on studio apartments I had toured.
So, yep, I bought it. In that kitchen, I make the standby, spaghetti sauce from scratch, the way my mom did. from there on, it was a learning curve. I had to teach myself everything and I was willing to try anything! I made 100 pounds of meatballs (rolling each and every one by hand, mind you) for a publicity party for the Science Fiction Convention I staff. From there, I was studying to pass my Nuc classes so cooking was a catch as catch can thing, but still I tried to learn. My next adventure in cooking was a pan of Baklava. THAT was divine!!!! I was hooked. there was a local Greek Restaurant that sold Baklava and I had always loved it. this was my first real, there it is on a plate realization that I could cook nearly anything I decided to try.
After that, I was off to the races. A small health food store on the next block was a target. One year, I decided to make fruitcake. my ex-husband's mother would never touch good fruitcakes. being a good Baptist, she would not consider a fruitcake that had been soaked in rum!! I also had a room mate who was on an all natural, earth girl thing. so, we put our heads together and we MADE fruitcake using fresh or dried fruit, but not the candied fruit normally used, these days. over the next four years, I make up about 50 little 6 inch round gelatin mold pans of fruitcake and sold them to the health food store. I developed rather a following!
Later, of course, came the exile to Atlanta and that was the end of the fruitcake business. but the beginning of learning to make yummy food from inexpensive ingredients. and I have never looked back. I still use less expensive where it will suit, but I do try to find the best product for the job. and I still save money.
So, how did you guys start in the kitchen? (or deck)
For myself, I purchased my first house when I was 22. When I say purchase, I mean it was kind of given to me. it belonged to a dear friend and business partner of my dad's. Rick was my dad's friend. his brother had owned and lived in the house. the brother was a severe alcoholic. that eventually led him to a heart attack and death. because of his Grief, Rick could barely stand to talk about the house, much less put much work into it or keep it. When he heard I was looking for an apartment, he and his wife offered me the house.
A non-qualifying assumable loan (try finding one of THOSE, these days) with PITI payments that were about half the rent on studio apartments I had toured.
So, yep, I bought it. In that kitchen, I make the standby, spaghetti sauce from scratch, the way my mom did. from there on, it was a learning curve. I had to teach myself everything and I was willing to try anything! I made 100 pounds of meatballs (rolling each and every one by hand, mind you) for a publicity party for the Science Fiction Convention I staff. From there, I was studying to pass my Nuc classes so cooking was a catch as catch can thing, but still I tried to learn. My next adventure in cooking was a pan of Baklava. THAT was divine!!!! I was hooked. there was a local Greek Restaurant that sold Baklava and I had always loved it. this was my first real, there it is on a plate realization that I could cook nearly anything I decided to try.
After that, I was off to the races. A small health food store on the next block was a target. One year, I decided to make fruitcake. my ex-husband's mother would never touch good fruitcakes. being a good Baptist, she would not consider a fruitcake that had been soaked in rum!! I also had a room mate who was on an all natural, earth girl thing. so, we put our heads together and we MADE fruitcake using fresh or dried fruit, but not the candied fruit normally used, these days. over the next four years, I make up about 50 little 6 inch round gelatin mold pans of fruitcake and sold them to the health food store. I developed rather a following!
Later, of course, came the exile to Atlanta and that was the end of the fruitcake business. but the beginning of learning to make yummy food from inexpensive ingredients. and I have never looked back. I still use less expensive where it will suit, but I do try to find the best product for the job. and I still save money.
So, how did you guys start in the kitchen? (or deck)
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