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Original poster

Why are British women such shit cooks??

293 replies

moondog · 05/11/2007 22:57

I mix with a lot of different people.
Over the years, the women I know who can cook could be counted on one hand (and my mother and sister are two of those.)

Seriously, people haven't got a fucking clue about even the most basic stuff.On the rare occasion I am even invited to eat in someone else's house it is usually inedible slop.

And yet,the tv has nothing but cookery programmes on it,Gordon Ramsey is a househole name and the bookshops burst with glossy tomes that make the best seller list.

Seriously, any ideas???

OP posts:
handlemecarefully · 05/11/2007 23:15
Grin
LittleBella · 05/11/2007 23:15

And we're eating loads of processed shite as well, with lots of stuff in them - all those packets with powder in, or sauce in tins - god knows what bloating obesity ingredients are in there

I love Moondog's food threads. They are a feature of MN life I look forward to.

handlemecarefully · 05/11/2007 23:16

(that was a grin meant in response to Edam's post)

CountessDracula · 05/11/2007 23:16

now moondog

pls tell HMC how fab house swap was

We are planning one to hers next year!

LittleBella · 05/11/2007 23:16

I think a lot of it is lack of time.

Original poster
moondog · 05/11/2007 23:16

Nowt to do with sexist assumpions.
Men are so bad generally they're not even worth mentioning (and my dh can't cook although he loves and appreciates good food and does all the shopping/unpacking/cleaning and dishwashing while I just cook.)

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 05/11/2007 23:17

no no that is horseshit

If you have time to watch crap on tv you have time to cook

handlemecarefully · 05/11/2007 23:17

Oh yes am all agog

wrinklytum · 05/11/2007 23:17

I am a fair to middling cook,well I try to cook nutritious meals with a balance of foodgroups every day,or make bulk and freeze stuff.

My grandmother is French and a marvellous cook.Dunno if this correlates.

I did "Food and nutrition" at school,which did give some ideas on how to throw together a nutritious meal but I think this is unfashionable nowadays and that a lot of the problem is that kids are just not taught HOW to cook nowadays.I enjoyed cooking with my mum as a kid.I suppose with busy lifestyles it is just not seen as important or people do not have as much time(sadly).My mum was talking about this the other day,she was saying that a few years ago her local supermarket had about 3 meat aisles and now there is just 1 with a preponderence of ready meal sections.

My grandmother feels that in this country food is not seen as important.Dunno how true this is.My mum always waxes lyrical about my great grandads' wake with a feast of 12 courses and several hours eating time,and the fact that a family always sat down together to eat their meals.It is a different time I suppose.

Original poster
moondog · 05/11/2007 23:18

HMC it was great!!!!!
We had a fabulous time in CD's lovely lovely house.

Yes,I did indeed see the jaggery (10/10.
What impressed me most however was.......

the NUTMEG SYRUP.

Fucking fantastic!!
Never seeen it before nor even heard of it.

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 05/11/2007 23:18

annoyingly I have to go to bed as have early meeting

On my part i must say it was fookin fab

Beautiful house, so comfortable and homely
Wonderful location
So much to do
In fact (did I tell you this moondog) we all agreed it was the best holiday for years

Heathcliffscathy · 05/11/2007 23:19

sophable desperately scrabbles round in mind for woman cook she knows that cooks well and is british....is failing atm.

CountessDracula · 05/11/2007 23:19

ah it is from Tobago
I stock up on it when I go

It is fantastic in all sorts eg stir frys, sauces, on toast etc

CountessDracula · 05/11/2007 23:20

sophable is eg of non brit parentish type who can cook
exceedingly well

Original poster
moondog · 05/11/2007 23:21

Yes,that lack of time stuff is shite.

I cooked chicken in soy and sherry for tomorrow's dinner in about 15 mins flat tonight.

Supermarket trips stun me.Wall to wall coloured processed shit.

I used to live in France and go there loads (sis married to French geezer) Mind you,they haVE A DUBIOUS WEAKNESS FOR DODGY syrupy aperitifs and nasty little cracker canape things.

OP posts:
Original poster
moondog · 05/11/2007 23:22

We're spo glad you enjoyed it CD. I would have liked to cook for you.
Yup, always had Soph earmarked as good cook type.

OP posts:
LittleBella · 05/11/2007 23:22

But lots of women don't have time to watch shit tv either. Or cook. (Or at least they think they don't.)

Good food still isn't a priority. Cheap food is. And quick and easy food. And if you are deskilled and don't know what sort of flavours go with others, following a recipe takes time. If you've just done a full day's work and you need to clean the house up and you don't think good food is important because food companies have convinced you that they're doing it all for you, then you will succumb to the cultural messages that surround you. The main one being "you're busy, you're exhausted, this is one job you don't have to do this evening, we've done it for you".

Original poster
moondog · 05/11/2007 23:24

Yes Bella. Very true.
If I couldn't cook good decent food for my family and had to resort to crap made in a factory by a team of miserable Roumanians in hair nets,I would feel that I had failed in my duty to my family.

OP posts:
snowleopard · 05/11/2007 23:24

I'm a good cook MD and like you I love it - the chopping, the glass of wine, radio 4... tonight I made shepherd's pie and i generally cook from scratch.

But I do have to admit that of the good cooks I know, most are men.

Original poster
moondog · 05/11/2007 23:25

Deskilled.That is the key to it.

Nonoe of us have a fucking clue how to look after ourselves.

Same with blokes.

How many do you know in UK who can actually build/fix stuff? Most of them are bloody useless.

OP posts:
themildmanneredjanitor · 05/11/2007 23:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LittleBella · 05/11/2007 23:28

My ex boss was once accosted by his neighbour when he was mixing cement "I can't believe it, that's the first time in years I've seen a man under 40 mix cement, I didn't think your generation could fend for themselves... and you a director, too!"

Original poster
moondog · 05/11/2007 23:28

lol lol

OP posts:
bluenosesaint · 05/11/2007 23:28

wow, well theres a sweeping generalization ...

fwiw i'm the only british woman in my family who CAN'T cook!

Then again, i probably can, i just can't be arsed

sheperds pie again anyone??

snowleopard · 05/11/2007 23:28

I think people haven't learned to cook as a mater of course. My parents taught me - if I had to rely on what I learned at school it would be grey slop-tastic. I think some men get into it as a bit of a macho/showy thing but women are less likely to do that, so you're left with whatever you grew up with.

Interestingly I always feel short of time, I never have enough, I ;ament all the DIY and admin and hobby stuff that I never get round to. But although cooking properly takes time, DP and I do it most nights - it's just a habit and programmed into us by our childhoods I think.