Jan 18, 2011 | Tasty Tuesday | 32 comments
Reading the comments to my Tasty Tuesday posts and the discussions created, definitely spark some of my most favorite foodie moments on this blog.
From “What’s Your Favorite Cookbook,” to “What’s the Weirdest Thing You’ve Ever Eaten?,” it’s so interesting to hear such a wide range of experiences.
One of the topics I desire to write more about are practical, hands on ways to create simple easy recipes. At first, it was just going to be a “Kids in the Kitchen” type of ongoing theme, but as I meet more young adults who don’t know how to cook, I guess these tips, recipes and ideas could be for them as well. So, would that category title inhibit them from searching through the archives? Maybe I need a better category for that? Any ideas?
The comments in the post, When Did You Learn to Cook? represent some of my favorite answers. The stories, heritage, and emotions (good and bad) create a thread that showcase the power of time spent together in the kitchen. If you haven’t read the comments, take a minute to do so. They are better than my post, by far. 🙂
Jumping from that topic, I would like to create a list of “first time” recipes. Would you mind brushing off those cobwebs and jog the memory, please. As I start brainstorming, I would love to tackle some of your recommended recipes with my children.
Is there a recipe or two that stands out in your memory as the first recipe that you learned to cook?
Do you still make it today?
Off to see your weekly inspirations.
Simple Rules for Tasty Tuesday Parade of Foods – If you’re joining in with a recipe link, two simple requests. As always, Please link directly to your recipe post and not your blog URL, so that everyone can find the recipe months from now.
Also, link back here so that everyone can join in the fun. MANY of you are not linking back, and it’s just common courtesy of blog carnivals.
Don’t forget to support your fellow bloggers by checking out some of their amazing recipes…be inspired by others.
Other posts you might enjoy
Kristia@Family Balance Sheeton January 18, 2011 at 8:01 am
The first recipe that I made all by myself was Nestle Tollhouse choc chip cookies and I was proably about 12.
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Candi @ Family Stamping and FOOD!on January 18, 2011 at 8:03 am
I think the first recipe I made up by myself was Vegetable Beef Soup. The first one I did following a recipe was for Chocolate Chip Cookies. My Momma always had us on the counter with her making cookies when we were little. So it was only natural it be the first one I did by myself 🙂
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Amanda @ Serenity Nowon January 18, 2011 at 8:04 am
Thanks for hosting, Jen! It’s been a while since I’ve linked up…I’m looking forward to browsing today. 🙂 The first thing I learned to cook on my own (besides brownies from a box or spaghetti, lol) was a really good chicken tortellini soup. 🙂
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Melissaon January 18, 2011 at 8:14 am
I can recall making Chocolate Chip cookies and homemade brownies. I even remember riding my bike to the corner convience store to buy eggs so I could make them!
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Robin @ Set Your Heart To Seek Godon January 18, 2011 at 8:16 am
My first recipe wasn’t edible! When I was little I remember being at the stove with my Mom making playdough! Sweet, sweet memory! 🙂 Thanks for hosting the link-up.
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Joyon January 18, 2011 at 8:20 am
I don’t remember the first thing I ever made. I think it was French toast. But I used to teach a kids’ cooking class two years ago. I’ll have to dig through my files and find some of the easy recipes we used. I taught two age groups (4-7 and 8-12).
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Vanderbilt Wifeon January 18, 2011 at 8:45 am
One of the things I remember making by myself as a kid was biscuits from the Big Red Betty Crocker cookbook. I loved rolling them out and cutting them! Still do!
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April@The 21st Century Housewifeon January 18, 2011 at 8:50 am
Hi Jen! I really did have to brush away the cobwebs for this one. I’m struggling to remember for sure what the first recipe I cooked was, but I’m almost sure it was cookies, most likely my Grandma’s recipe for Bachelor Buttons with my Mom. You could add maraschino cherries, raisins, nuts or coconut to the batter and I remember dividing the batter up and making up all sorts of combinations. I wish I had learned to cook more main dishes as child, and I think it’s really important for kids to learn basic cooking techniques as well as the really fun stuff – things like boiling or frying an egg, making a nutritious salad, preparing vegetables etc. But it’s great to do the fun stuff too, and I have wonderful memories of baking with my son – who at 18 is now really confident in the kitchen and even experiments in the kitchen. He has developed some wonderful stir fries and pasta dishes. Thanks for asking such an interesting question, and I look forward to your series for young people.
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Karen @ Abundance on a Dimeon January 18, 2011 at 9:14 am
Wow, I really can’t remember the first recipe I ever made – I started cooking so young I can’t recall a time when I didn’t know how. Whatever it was, knowing me I didn’t really follow the directions and just did my own thing 🙂 I know by the time I was 11 or 12 I was cooking many full meals at home (I was always more into cooking than my mom was!)
I still have my first cookbook that I received when I was very young – probably 5 0r 6. It was send over from England for me by some of my dad’s relatives. It’s called “My Learn to Cook Book” by Ursula Sedgwick. I actually found an Amazon UK listing for it: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Learn-Cook-Book-Ursula-Sedgwick/dp/0601071360
I have such fond memories of that book – it is pretty beaten up, much like many of my favourite cookbooks of today!Reply
Kimon January 18, 2011 at 9:57 am
I cannot remember the specific recipe but I remember loving to bake cookies! As a young married I didn’t have many things I knew how to make–luckily my hubby wasn’t particular and my mother-in-law was a great teacher. She wrote out some of her easiest recipes for me–they are a treasure to have.
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Kim Erwinon January 18, 2011 at 10:11 am
My first cooking experience was probably Hobo pockets at Girl Scout camp. You remember the hamburger patty, sliced potatoes, carrots, and onions securely wrapped in heavy duty foil. We baked them in the coals of the campfire. I still make them in the oven on occasion. This recipe brings back many memories.
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Amandaon January 18, 2011 at 10:19 am
I actually don’t remember learning to cook. I’ve been sitting here racking my brain for the past few minutes and can not remember. I remember when I was small we made blueberry muffins a lot and I always helped my sister when the mood struck her to make crepes. Oh and egg-in-a-holes! We had those almost every weekend and I loved cutting the holes out of the bread for my dad. There are definitely a lot of adults in my age group (I’m 27) that never learned to cook. I have friends who are now married and parents and they are struggling to teach themselves to cook real meals and not rely on prepackaged or pre-made meals.
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Cindyon January 18, 2011 at 10:27 am
I grew up watching my Mom in the kitchen, so I learned quite a bit watching her. I think the first recipe she let me attempt on my own was Salmon Patties. I was so proud that I was able to make dinner for the family, LOL. I still make them today and they are one of my children’s favorite foods.
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Tabitha (A Penny Saved)on January 18, 2011 at 11:29 am
@Cindy, so funny! You made me remember my first experience with salmon patties. I opened up the can of salmon and saw bones and gagged so hard! My mother had to fix our dinner that night because I was too sick to finish.
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Carol@easytobeglutenfreeon January 18, 2011 at 10:47 am
I can’t remember the first thing I cooked but I do remember my first cookbook – a Bisquick cookbook. I think I made almost every recipe in it.
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Mandyon January 18, 2011 at 11:06 am
The first “real” recipe I can remember making, besides boxed mixes for cookies or brownies, was a “from scratch” Coconut Cream Cake, homemade frosting and all. It was my grandfather’s favorite, and it was for his last Christmas with us! Special memories and still one of our favorite desserts! 🙂
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Tabitha (A Penny Saved)on January 18, 2011 at 11:27 am
Not counting the use of the HUGE microwave we got when I was in the fourth grade, the first thing I learned to cook from scratch was spaghetti and meat sauce. I would toss a cooked noodle against the wall and if it stuck, I knew they were ready. The recipe actually called for MSG! I was in the sixth grade.
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janon January 18, 2011 at 11:37 am
Wow, I can NOT remember my first recipe I made by myself. Something happens after 45, sorry 🙂 But I linked up to something that was one of the first things I made when I really really started to cook dinners all the time … that Hubby actually liked the first time around! 🙂
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G.on January 18, 2011 at 11:37 am
I remember the first dinner I ruined. 🙂 I was 19 and was living with my dad at the time and I wanted to make dinner for him and his girlfriend (now wife). It was a chicken dish with rice and a veggie. Simple right? Well, I nearly burnt the chicken, the rice was undercooked. At least the veggies were ok. But, that’s how I learned. Trial and error and the food network! 🙂 My mom said when I was younger she couldn’t even get me to make a box of mac and cheese for my brother and I and now I LOVE to cook, it’s one of my favorite things to do. Go figure. 🙂
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Lisaon January 18, 2011 at 11:48 am
The first thing I ever made myself was mini cherry cheesecake tarts. I think I also made brownies from scratch using an old children’s cookbook. Just linked up with chicken divan.
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marion January 18, 2011 at 11:59 am
I am 56 yrs old and “My First Cookbook” was a freebie from Imperial Sugar when I was 6. I made “Sweet and Peanut Buttery Sandwiches”. When I was 10, I got to take a cooking class at the electric company and it was called the “Reddy Killowatt Cooking School” I still have both of the books and I still make the corn muffins from the Reddy Killowatt book. I don’t really refer to them anymore, but I surely cherish them as my first adventures in the kitchen.
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Rebecca Con January 18, 2011 at 1:23 pm
My parents did not cook often when I was growing up. My mom taught me two recipes, though I don’t know which came first. When I got married the only 2 recipes I knew were scrambled eggs and spaghetti, and neither of them I cooked well.
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Alex at a moderate lifeon January 18, 2011 at 2:42 pm
Hi Jen, I just had a similar discussion with my brother about how few people know how to cook. I know my mother and grandmother taught me a lot of traditional cooking and then I was married by 23 so I have been cooking for a long time. I just posted up a recipe that my daugher and her cousin cooked for me this weekend for breakfast that they created on their own. Teaching kids to cook is not only fun, but it helps them be more self sufficient and independent in the long run. This week, I am linking up a recipe for whole wheat buttermilk biscuits that were divine. all the best! Alex
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Debbieon January 18, 2011 at 8:32 pm
My first, all-by-myself cooking event, was potato salad — with 10 pounds of potatoes! We had potato salad for DAYS! I think I was 9 or 10 years old.
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Heidion January 18, 2011 at 8:48 pm
The first thing I remember making was chocolate chip cookies from the recipe in Betty Crocker’s Kids Cookbook. I just finally found the recipe again late last year and made them for the first time in 20 years. They were as awesome as I remember them being!
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Janieon January 18, 2011 at 8:49 pm
The first thing I ever cooked was one of those cake mixes from the little bake oven. (heated with a light bulb!)
The first thing “real” thing I ever made on my own was Breakfast for my dad-scrambled eggs, cooked using a recipe from the Little Golden book (I think it was My First Cookbook) . I was 7 years old.Reply
Bethon January 18, 2011 at 9:09 pm
I have always helped my mom around the kitchen, but I first began independent cooking in 3rd grade while taking a 4-H project, “Let’s Begin Cooking.” If I recall correctly, the first dish I made was scrambled eggs with cheese and hotdogs. Doesn’t sound good to me now, but I think I was pretty excited back then.
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THERESA Eon January 18, 2011 at 9:53 pm
I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS 6 YEARS OLD MY MOM GOT SICK AND WAS BEDRIDDEN FOR A WHILE AND MY DAD ALWAYS CAME HOME FROM WORK AT NOON FOR LUNCH, SO MY MOM TOLD ME WHAT TO DO AND I REMEMBER MAKING HOME FRIES, PEAS AND CORNBREAD. I THINK I BURNED THE FRIES A LITTLE BUT MY DAD THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY GOOD. SO 43 YEARS LATER I STILL MAKE THEM FOR MY FAMILY EXCEPT I DON’T BURN THEM. I HAVE FROM THEN ON LOVED TO COOK.
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Tabbyon January 18, 2011 at 10:43 pm
I first made bisquick cinnamon rolls and only because my parents were gone out for the evening. I think I was a tad bit of a perfectionist and scared of failure. I was around 14 years old and this quickly became my one and only specialty! Cooking has since become my creative outlet and favorite hobby.
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Inspired2cookon January 18, 2011 at 11:56 pm
Two of the first recipes I made when I was in elementary school were baked alaska and orange julius. I haven’t made them in a bazillion years but I still remember them. 🙂
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Annon January 19, 2011 at 12:59 am
I love seeing all this food, makes me very hungry though!
Honoring The KingReply
Queen of the Houseon January 19, 2011 at 9:38 am
This is not a recipe I used when I was a child, but it is a recipe that would be an easy one for first time cooks….it is so fun to knead the dough, and the olive oil in it, helps it not to be such a sticky dough, which can be so frustrating (even for this mom!) 😉
Enjoy!
P.S. I think I will have my 8 year old help me with this one tonight! 🙂Reply
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