How can I learn to cook for my husband?

Question

My husband and I grew up very differently. I grew up in the city in a single parent home eating mostly cereal, sandwiches and frozen dinners. My dad did not cook. My husband grew up on a farm with his grandparents which cooked large meals at the same time every night. All of there meals were from scratch.

Most of the things that he likes, I have never even heard of. I have tried to cook from recipes, but every time I do he says I ruin it. We have been married for 2 years now and this is getting old. Some advise would be appreciated.

I noticed a lot of people telling me to ask his family for advice. I wish this was an option, but sadly I never got to meet the inlaws, they died before we were married.

Answer 1

I never learned to cook either growing up, so when I moved out I started watching what my friends would cook, started watching TV programs that had simple but tasty recipes. STarted looking up simple recipes online with only 5 or less ingredients. THere are cookbooks dedicated to simple basic tasty recipes. And just time and practice. Most people learn by watching and practice. I still do not like to cook, but it has improved a great deal over the years out of desparation for something besides top ramen or mcdonalds.eheheh.

Ask your husband to teach you his recipes and you will do your best to learn them. Anyone with half sense would want you to learn so he can have good food and not have to cook it himself. ;) Good luck.

Answer 2

Well did he marry you for who you are or whether you can cook or not. Tell him to stop being rude and since HE is the one who grew up with home cooked meals tell him he should be the one doing the cooking. There are plenty of other chores you can be in charge of and he just cooks since he has such a sensitive palate. You buy all the items and ingredients he needs and when he gets home from work a few days a week he cooks the meals. He doesn't have to do it everyday, just 2-3 times a week and make enough so there are leftovers for the next day.

If you just don't have it in you to be a good cook there is nothing you can do about it, especially if you already attempted with recipes. There are probably many other things you are good at and both of you just need to accept that cooking is not one of them.

Answer 3

that is nice there are some women still feel that way, but now time have change and it will come in handy if he can cook. If he have that interesting in cooking then share it with him. You never know when this could come in hand. Think about if you have kids one day and you was too tired to cook? What is the chance that you wish that your husband can cook? Then what would happen if you was too sick to cook? Let him see what goes on in prepare the meals that he sit down and enjoying eating. This will open his eyes up more and really appreicate you and his good hot meal when he come in from work. There is no need to feel afraid that he is intruding on your turf. Maybe one day he feel like being romatice and want make dinner for you when he come home from work. Also, when he cook, he have to clean up the dishes!

Answer 4

Take a cooking course and watch the food network all the time. If you can, take a part time job in a kitchen somewhere. All of these things helped me become a great cook. I entertain all the time and certain people ask me to make certain things.

Buy cook books and subscribe to cooking magazines.

If you do all this, you will master the art of cooking. Also start small. Tyring to much at first without knowing the timing can ruin a meal.

Answer 5

Spend your time together in the kitchen...

On a day that both of you aren't working, tell him that you're gonna cook his favorite meal only if he'll standy by your side to guide you.Head to the supermarket together and take notes while he picks the ingredients. It'll show that you're really keen to learn .

Back in the kitchen, tell him that he's the Executive Chef and you're the apprentice. Tell him he instructs and you follow suit. List all the food that he likes and learn about them and cook it up. Be receptive and thankful of his criticisms and not upset.

Try to practice this whenever you both have the time. If you have the spare cash to spend, take up some cooking lessons or simply serve the Internet for some really delectable recipes i.e Yahoo Answers (Food & Dining category).

Answer 6

I'm not a recipe kind of woman either but I learned to cook through watching my grandparents and mother.

However, the best advise that I can give is to watch the cooking shows. You'll get a visual picture of the final result of your meal.

1. Emiril ( my favorite) I've gotten a lot of tips from him
2. Rachel Ray (she makes homecooked meals in less than 30 minutes).

Don't put too much pressure on yourself and just take your time in learning to cook. Most cooks will tell you that the basis of their skill is based on their passion for food.

Answer 7

Here in Denver they have these places that you can go to. The recipes and food are all there. All you have to do is put it together and freeze it. Supper Solutions, Dinner Delight, Dream Dinners, etc. It is not only good for those of us who can't cook, but don't have time. I think the average is $180 for 12 meals for 4 people. Cheaper than eating out.

Answer 8

There is a book called cooking with pioneers that is a very good down home cookbook. I did learn something from my mother and grandma, but, trial and error were what triumphed in the end. FYI and my mom said it made me a better cook than she is. Still love mom's cooking though. I grew up in East TN in the mountains and live in the city now in Michigan and I know what you are saying boy does the food taste different cooked by someone here. BTW, What is it he wants you to cook . There are easy shortcuts to cooking almost anything.....after 20 years of marriage and four kids you learn em (even from scratch).....would be happy to share. email if you want.

Answer 9

How dare him tell you that you are ruining it!!!! You don't need to answer to him or anyone else. I think it was awesome of you to even try, remember most woman don't like to cook period. I would just try simple meals at first, get use to your kitchen and before you know it, you will be making great wonderful meals, just tell your hubby to be more patient, if he cannot.....BURN THE FOOD REGULARLY!!!!! My first marriage was a complete disaster, he came from an Italian family that prepared everything from scratch and if I made something wrong, he would leave and go eat at Mommy's house.....I grew tired of trying to please him and left. I have been happily remarried for close to 7 years and everyday, my cooking gets better and better;) I must be doing something right all 4 kids are growing like weeds and hubby and kids love my cooking;)

Answer 10

Go to the cooking channels on TV, some of them are great and you'll learn to love some of the recipies you see. Tape them just in case you want to go back and play and pause while you are trying to make the same dishes. You'll learn to get "favorites" for the cooking shows.

Also the 'net has about 1 billion recipies online. Try there and just follow the instructions step by step. Once you get used to what spices do what and the impact of more or less then you can start experimenting on your own.