Kitchen

[Desert Lily]

A plethora of cooking programs came after Julia Child & Top Chef. There's even a network for cooking & food. I used to watch several of them, but now, not so much.

I enjoy watching an occasional program that demonstrates a complex meal or dessert. I can use the ideas for special days. But, my everyday cooking is simplified. Even when I was a young single working mom, I didn't have time for extremely elaborate meals. I made a protein, veggies, salad, & a grain, and sometimes dessert.

Programs like Create's America's Test Kitchen and Cooks Country demonstrate recipes with so many steps. Who has the time or inkling for that?! Not working moms & not me. They're not practical. I watched one show where it took them 2 whole days to make iced coffee.

And those tests. Maybe some people like a sweeter sauce or a lighter iron skillet. I once took the test advice & bought the winning bagged popcorn. What I got was a mouthful of hulls, not flavor. It's opinion and what individuals need or like. I now take those "tests" with a grain of salt.

I used to use my mom's Settlement cookbook. It gave me directions, substitutes, & was realistic.

And the spices. All these cooking programs use a variety of the same spices in each item. It seems to me that using all of those spices in all of the food makes all the food taste the same - like the spices. I want my squash to taste like squash, not like a spice mixture. I want my marinara sauce to have the appropriate spices, but I don't need them in every single thing I eat. IMO, the use of spices in programs is over the top & boring.

Many of the cooking programs don't even tell the viewer the amounts of the ingredients they're using. They tell the viewer to check a website for that.

I used to come home after school as a kid & watch Julia Child. She explained the process, the ingredients, & downfalls to watch for. I learned from her & was engaged in the program. I've learned from Martha Stewart, too.

On occasion, I still watch programs like Ciao Italia, A Chef's Life, & Lidia because I can actually learn something or use the info. I also sometimes watch Mr. Food bc he has recipes that can match real lifestyle.

I won't even go into some of the silly food game shows. And what about healthy eating??

I understand that programs & interests recycle. I've moved on from most of the cooking programs.

[Harpa]

@Desert Lily  I like to watch for method, not necessarily for ingredients. Anymore, I like quick & simple, too.

As to spices (and herbs) - they are known as super foods, and so I tend to use the ones I like not to overpower the dish, but to enhance the flavors. I mean, what would cake be without vanilla?

I used to grow a lot of my own herbs. They also are a necessary complement to what I cook.

[We rescue cats]

My favorite cookbook is Julia Child's The Way to Cook, I learned so much from her. Another that really taught me well is Jeff Smith...scandals aside. 

It seems that spices are now being touted at probiotics....

[LavernLuvsShoes]

My gripe is Basil, Lemon or Lime Zest and "a drizzle of Olive Oil" on top of everything!!!

I also cook with olive oil, but when I see the cooks and chefs "drizzle" a tablespoon of it on a completed dish, it almost makes me gag.

Can't stand the taste of Basil (but I love Cilantro), and I'm always thinking about pesticides, etc. on the outside of lemons and limes.

But that's just me. 

[RollTide2008]

I mean, it legit does takes 2 days to make iced coffee from cold brew. I don’t mind being referred to a web site to get a recipe for something I saw prepared on tv. To be honest, I’m an experienced home chef and I could probably figure it. If I’m following a recipe, I want the recipe in front of me so why wouldn’t I go to the website. There’s a tablet that lives in my kitchen for just this purpose.

[sabatini]

@Desert Lily said:

Programs like Create's America's Test Kitchen and Cooks Country demonstrate recipes with so many steps. Who has the time or inkling for that?! Not working moms & not me. They're not practical.

LOL, & ITA!

I used to think that ATK should be renamed 'P.I.T.A. Cooking'.

The steps they take are ridiculous!

And I slowly grew to hate Chris Kimball. 

I quite watching all the food shows a long time ago.

[kze]

I don't follow recipes and only watch cooking shows or read cookbooks for ideas.  I don't have the patience.   For that reason, I don't bake. 

[AngelPuppy1]

I mostly watch cooking and baking competitions.  I have learned a few cooking and baking tips and terms, but I mostly watch these shows because I find them entertaining.

My favorite right now, although it certainly isn't new is --- Symon's Dinners/Cooking Out.  I just love Michael Symon and he has such a down to earth way about him.  For those who haven't watched, he prepares everything outside in his lovely garden on a couple of charcoal grills.  His wife, Lizzie, comes out and does some dishes and helps him, too.  And they have a young friend, who films them and joins in the fund.  Their dog, Norman, also makes impromptu visits!  It's such a fun and warm show!  

I also love The Kitchen.  They all seem to really like each other and it's more like a gathering of friends in their kitchen sharing recipes and food and teasing each other.  

[AngelPuppy1]

@LavernLuvsShoes 

While I get using olive oil to cook with, I also agree that I cann't understand the use of drizzling it on top of a finished dish!!!!  What's with that?  Personally I think it would make the dish so darn greasy and just ruin it!!!  

Here's another one - so many of the cooking shows have a "dish" of salt that they use while cooking.  I guess I'm behind the times but I never saw anybody in real life with a "dish" of salt that they use for cooking.  Then when they are cooking, they just keep throwing tons of salt - and pepper in the dishes haphazardly.  They salt at the beginning heavily and then again throughout.  Seems to me like everything would be really salty and peppery, but what do I know??   

[Yahooey]

while some things are fussy - it makes a difference

with flame off - a drizzle of olive oil, sesame oil, rice wine vingar is so good

cold brew takes 2 days bc steeped in cold water

my fav shows are cook's and they have lead me down the righ path for why some things are done - i  may not do them but still - i'm interested in the reasoning behind it

ina - a sense of calm watching her

most of the time - i will use youtube for a recipe