How long have you been cooking?

C&K*s Mommie wrote: Dumb question but I am just curious, really.
I am a novice still at this cooking. I never really had to cook growing up (hence why I get poked fun at at the expense of Chris' family ) But have you been cooking actual meals for your family since you were a tweenie, or later? Maybe when you were married you learned?

AlexsPajamaMama replied: 4 or 5 years since I left my Dads house

luvbug00 replied: As long as I can remember. I cooked at home ALL the time. I was the offical cook of the house by 15.

My3LilMonkeys replied: Baking since I was 3 (with Mom's help for several years of course) cooking dinners since I was 8 or so.

holley79 replied: I was taught to cook when I was 10 by my grandmother. As I grew up I helped my mom prepare meals. I hate cooking so I married a man that enjoyed it. LOL

mummy2girls replied: I started to cook when i took home economics in highschool... and ive been cooking ever since... so 14 years

Our Lil' Family replied: I really only started cooking after high school, when I moved out. And then especially when I met DH, after all you all know the way to a man's heart!!
So I guess 8-10 years, I've gotten much better and the menu has broadened a lot, although we did have Hamburger Helper tonight, an old faithful!

CantWait replied: I think basically since I was 9 years old I started really watching what my mom was doing and turning the stove on etc. I was probably in grade 7 or 8 when I started to actually help get dinner ready.

kit_kats_mom replied: I started cooking for myself around 7 years old because I was a latch Key kid. Mostly grilled cheese and stuff (in the pre microwave years <GASP!>). Then I started cooking meals for myself on a regular basis when I was about 11 for two reasons. 1. my mom worked graveyard shift and I was home alone and 2. my mom started a strict vegetarian diet around that time and frankly, I just couldn't eat much more bean soup concoctions.

luvmykids replied: My mom tried to make me cook one night a week when I was in high school but I hated it and ruined it on purpose everytime so she gave up on me

Living on my own I did the basics but I've been "serious" about cooking for about 3 years now.... once I realized the kids couldn't eat mac n cheese for every meal!

Lately I've realized I really love to cook when I'm making something I love to eat, so I've been trying to menu plan that way, takes the pain out on the days I don't really feel like it.

punkeemunkee'smom replied: I helped my mom here and there and learned how to cook from her. I have been cooking for our family since we got married so 10 years. I LOVE him but Bill is domesticly challanged and would have to survive on peanut butter and canned chili if not I love to cook-I like it when he says Wow that was good! Now if I can just find someone who loves to clean up...... Tay does love to help with dishes so that works(and the floor gets done that way too)!

gr33n3y3z replied: since the age of 6
I've always helped in the kitchen all the time

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: I don't know at what age I started, but my mom would leave recipes on the kitchen counter and told us (my sis and I) to make it. We didn't have a choice...and I hated it at the time, but I'm SO happy that she did it now. I love to cook!

redchief replied: I started cooking in high school. Mom is a good cook, but due to post-polio syndrome she can't stay on her feet long, so we all kind of learned and pitched in when we were old enough. It's served me well. It isn't often that both spouses in a family can cook well and compliment each others' skills, but that's the case with Lisa and me.

5littleladies replied: I didn't really start to cook until I got married, and believe me I was terrified!! I asked a married friend of mine what to cook and she told me Hamburger Helper-So that's pretty much where I started.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: I've been helping my mom bake since I was about 2. At 4, I culd make sandwiches...at 6 I could prepare the whole meal other than actually cooking it. I would measure everything out, mix it etc... but not actually use the stove. I loved to experiment, I still do.

I've been pretty much cooking on my own since the age of 8... my mom doesn't really like to cook, so whenever I used to offer to make something, she'd let me. Even now... she calls me to find out what I made for dinner... and she'll come over and eat. She does my dishes though...

JP&KJMOM replied: Too early to remember I think. I stayed with my granny as a kid and we cooked lunch for my papa everyday. Yes she always let me help do something. I always helped my mom as I got older and then once I moved out it never stopped. I did marry a man that loves to cook as much as I do so we take turns now.

3xsthefun replied: I didn't really start to cook until after I moved out of my parents house.

lisar replied: I grew up with my Granny so cooking was always a big deal. She always cooks a big dinner. So I learned how by helping her. I have always cooked as far back as I can remember. I done my first thankgiving dinner all by myself when I was 15. Did a great job at it to.

MyLuvBugs replied: oh goodness! My momma and grandma had me helping in the kitchen when I was like 6 years old? Something like that. I remember we had an assignment in 2nd grade to write our own receipe, and I wrote out by myself a perfect scrambled egg receipe. lol My teacher was really surprised by it. I'm definately not a pro and make mistakes all the time (just ask DH ), but I like it. I'm a lazy cook though and like things easy and tasty. lol

salmndr007 replied: I have been cooking since I can remember...probably around 10 or so my mom started teaching me...then my brother taught me a few things, and I learned more on my own when I went to college. I am now starting to teach Jess how to cook and I can't wait to teach Isabella how to cook. (By the way, Jess can cook some killer breakfast foods..yumm I am getting hungry just thinking about them)

Boo&BugsMom replied: Depends on your definition of cooking ! When growing up I hated it, still do, but I would say when our son was born (he's almost 4) is when I started to actually cook other things than meals from a box. I wanted us to sit at the table like a family and I wanted our son to have balanced meals, so I started to experiment (some good, some terrible). My problem is I get bored with cooking the same things and then don't want to cook anymore until I find new things. Plus, I am so tired from my long day of teaching preschool 10 hours each day and 50 hours a week that I am so burnt out and not in the mood to cook.

ilovemybaby replied: Left home at 20 and had little cooking skills (scrambled eggs, french toast, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, eggs, if you can put it in the microwave I could probably cook it KWIM LOL)... so it's been 7 years now

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Gosh, I've been cooking since I was in elementary. My mother is a big cook and I always stood around in the kitchen while she was cooking and helped. I learned the most by just watching her, though.

Scotty is a pretty good cook, too. He's really good at grilling. Our favorite thing to do on Sundays is to cook together.

coasterqueen replied: Well I've made simple things since I was a young kid and had to 'start' dinner quite a bit for my mom in my early teen years. I didn't really start making anything too big until I was living on my own at 17. Dh does all the cooking because I really hate cooking. Although I have been doing the cooking on Friday and Sunday nights and Dh is LOVING it.

Cece00 replied: I've been cooking since I was 7 or 8. My mom didnt make me do it, I actually just liked to. I still do, just not ALL the time. So there are nights when I dont cook, esp when DH is out of town.

I have to admit, though, I am a really good cook.