Worst cook in the world

[Jujujudo]

I’m a grown up. 51 years old, two boys. I own a fresh produce business (mainly seasonal locally grown fruit and veg). I also have access to the best quality food you can buy: olive oil, raw tachini, etc through the business.
I have been cooking from scratch since we got married, mainly because it was cheaper and easier than the other options. My husband is from the Middle East and is very used to well seasoned and delicious food.
But no matter what I make, it tastes like crap. My kids call my cooking “grey”. I follow recipes and use fresh ingredients. I’m creative, a fast learner, I put love into it. But nothing comes out good.
I’ve now got a 16 year old who is always hungry and would rather go without than eat my food (I suggested he learn how to cook - still waiting), and a 9 year old Coeliac which makes everything more complicated.
It’s not inedible, it’s just not good.
Any advice?

https://www.saltsearsavor.com/blog/onion-flavor

Same with garlic by the way

Hi OP, it sounds as though you’re trying really hard and your family are being a bit overly critical. I have been cooking since I was quite young, about 8 or 9, and I suppose that has made me quite an instinctive cook- I almost never use a recipe unless I’m trying something new.
Something I think really helps is to think about the balance of flavours, so if you cook a dish, think about whether it has a good balance of salty, sour, sweet and what I used to call ‘ dark flavour’ as a kid but I now know to be umami! For example, the other day I was making sausage and mash and I made an onion gravy to go with it. I fried off the onions with a bit of flour and then added some chicken stock. When I tasted it I then found that it was too salty (as in, the only thing I could really taste was salt!) so I added a bit of white wine to counteract the saltiness. Then I tasted it again- too sour- so then I added a bit of honey to enhance the sweetness, and it was just right. If you have ingredients to hand which will create this balance of flavours, you can usually cook dishes which will taste good.

But a Thermomix, expensive, but so worth it ! Tells you what to do and will also do the chopping and cooking .
when I get my new kitchen I’m getting one they are the ultimate machine and used by all the top restaurants for consistency.
game changer.
There will be a local representative in your area, who will do a demo and be on hand to help you .
you won’t look back, also men love them as it’s so easy to use.

I’m not a great cook either, mostly because I have other more interesting things to do and a basement kitchen, so I go upstairs and don’t baste/ stir / check as much as I should. I also find that too much salt makes me feel lousy so I use less than recipes say. If people are coming over I am more careful and salt correctly and things are better…

My only advice is to buy a rice cooker. I also have one GF child. It’s changed my life. I had a bowl of plain GABA rice for lunch the other day with some broccoli and cheese and chili oil and it was delicious.

Does your husband complain too @Jujujudo ?