to think that people should be able to cook?

[bobbytorq]

I've been lsitening to radio 2 this morning and Joanna Scanlan is on ans she said she made a roux for the first time recently and found it hard work. I make a roux often and it's really easy and my kids have been making them since they were 10/11 too. It made me think that there musrt be loads of people who just don't have the cooking basics.

Joanna Scanlon may not be skilled at cooking, but I can confirm without hesitation that she’s far better at acting than me (and I can cook)! Horses for courses Etc.

People who say they "can't cook" are clearly wrong as anyone can follow a recipe, surely?! I can make a roux because it's only 3 ingredients and a bit of stirring. People just need to learn. I also think some people just like saying they can't cook!
I have never wired a plug but I'm sure if I followed the instructions I could.

It's not hard. Just need a spanner and worse case senario is drain the system and then change it. I've done 3 in my house

I've been lsitening to radio 2 this morning and Joanna Scanlan is on ans she said she made a roux for the first time recently and found it hard work. I make a roux often and it's really easy and my kids have been making them since they were 10/11 too. It made me think that there musrt be loads of people who just don't have the cooking basics

I followed the recipe to the letter for a roux the first few times. Then I realised a random amount of butter and random amount of flour would work. Sometimes it's thicker, sometimes thinner. Either way, after it's cooked for a few minutes, I add milk a little at a time and adjust until the consistency is right. Mostly for cheese sauce. Even when it starts lumpy, a bit more milk and some whisking makes it smooth. The only difference is that when a roux is thin I need to let the sauce thicken up for longer which is a pain.

Actually, the roux is just the butter and the seasoned flour you cook in it. Then you add the milk, after the roux is made.

"People who say they "can't cook" are clearly wrong as anyone can follow a recipe, surely?!"

Not necessarily straight away. Quite often the instructions aren't clear to complete the beginners, so they'd have to look up words or the ingredients aren't known to them.
It is much easier with a video.

@Gwenhwyfar good point. I suppose I find it easy as I've been cooking and interested in food since a young age. I read recipe books for fun (and inspiration, obvs!)! I appreciate some people have little interest or willingness to cook and it's obviously harder.

I appreciate that are easier ones available, but I often look at the Guardian's recipes and I don't even know what half the food is, let alone the techniques.
I did manage this evening to make a cartouche by cutting a piece of baking paper, but only because there was a photo included. Just reding it wouldn't have been clear enough.

I mean, you can feed yourself fairly decently without making roux, so I'm not sure this is an issue I'd be too concerned about.