Whats cookin?

What is your skill level and why?

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

What do you mean by excellent? Like ... restaurant style chefige?

I'd say I'm between option 1 and 2, since, I can cook anything I want as long as I take the time to make it. (I just marked 2, since I don't think I'm organized enough to cook professionally)

I think, the most difficult thing I made, just because it was time consuming, was ravioli. Damn, I wish I had a pasta "maker" for that, my hands hurt for a few days. Rolling out pasta dough is a pain in the ass.

I've also made, "Mexican" type dishes, where I made everything, including the tortillas, refried beans, and several types of salsa. I used an associates homegrown jalape?os ... Jesus Christ. They were very hot, much hotter then any normal jalape?o.

Come to think of it, I usually make my own meat marinade too ... mmm ... burning feeling of chili and cayenne peppers ... dies from melted insides

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

Interpret the options any way you guys see fit. If "Excellent" means you can make a mean hotdog, then you can make an excellent mean hotdog.

This is just a "for the fun of it" poll. Don't make it a life choice ordeal. :rolleyes:

For the record, I am an option 2. I love to cook, but have had no real training in it. I can cook anything I wish using a cook book. I can cook many,many things using simply my memory.

Chicken ala king, Spaghetti, Pizza, anything you wish.

I do have one wish, I would like to learn to bake. I cannot make so much as a biscuit. :sad:

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

I completely suck at cooking, most likely due to lack of will to learn.
I'm pretty much the type of guy who shoves some meat type thing (eg.
kievs, escalopes, etc...) from the freezer into the oven, and makes up
some pasta/noodles/rice or whatever to go with it. Complete lack of
experimentation on my part.

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[img]http://card.mygamercard.net/sig/Default/reno84.png[/img]
Designer @ Haiku Interactive | ReNo-vation.net

I chose number one. Not only do I follow cooking instructions extremely well, but i know how to make my own stuff up that tastes great. I've invented numerous steak and kabob marinades that earn approval whenever someone uses it! I'm proud of my cookin' skillz.

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I tried sniffing coke, but the ice cubes kept getting stuck in my nose.
http://www.dimebowl.com

Don't roll your eyes at me.

Baking is pretty easy. In most senses, it's only difficult if you're impatient. Try looking up a bread site, or something as such, they'll tell you how to properly make dough. As for the baking part: once it's fluffy ... and not filled with dough and the right "brownage", it's done. Pretty easy, most things have set cooking times anyway (cookies at a normal cooking temuprature almost always take about ten minutes, for example)

Nickle, what do you usually use? I like using orange juice as a base from time to time (mixing with some other juices or spices). Tastes good on the grill .. just like everything else.

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

Crono said:
Don't roll your eyes at me.

I wouldn't normally, but you invariably attempt to make a federal case out of an otherwise normal situation most times.

I will however endeavor to refrain from my eye action. It was rude since I really do not know at what skill level you may be. Perhaps, you make my attempts look childish by comparison. For all I know, you may be the Cajun Chef I see often on satellite.

As for baking, it is difficult since it relies on things like touch, looks, consistency and worse, tackiness.... Do not begrudge me my shortfalls. :biggrin:

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

Option 4. With a cook-book at hand and some weeks of experimenting, I'd
probably get at a reasonable level, but I just don't give it that much
chance. Whenever I have to cook for myself, I either warm up something
or make something simple like rice (with sugar and canel, me likes it)
or brown beans and bacon (simple, yet delicious if it's made by anyone
but me :wink: ).

I'm just not as interested in cooking as in other things...

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Create-ivity - a game development blog

For a base I usually use soy sauce. I also use things like worcestershire sauce, sometimes. I like spicy foods so peppers of some kind usually work thier way in. I can tell you some of the marinades if you like.

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I tried sniffing coke, but the ice cubes kept getting stuck in my nose.
http://www.dimebowl.com

im #3

i can cook anything that comes in a box

and i can usually make up some unheard of wierd combinations that actually taste pretty good

not much for looks though

I'm between a 1 and 2 I think. Not only can I follow directions,
but I have a deep enough understanding of the basic chemistry involved
that I can improvise.

What are some more complicated foods people can make here (or items your proud of)?

I can make pretty good vegitarian sushi. I made a delicious apple pie
from scratch this spring. And my vegan pancake recipe has made me
quite popular amongst friends and touring bands.

soy sauce. Too salty for me. It gives a really off taste unless you use it on really heavy beef and stuff. I like stuff a little sweeter, so I stick to juices and more sugar based things. (Gourmet sauce, for example. It's a good "easy" fall back)

Worcestershire sauce is a little more ... um ... tangy? I guess. Good for beef, again.

I don't know, usually, I use certain tastes for different meat, like, I like using honey for lamb, only if I had a huge ass rotisserie on my grill.

Underdog, I have a feeling you have close to the same impression of me as a lot of people I know ... that I'm always too serious (or something as such). I didn't make it a life struggle or a career choice, it was just a question, since you didn't specify in your original post. Nothing more.

Oh yeah, I've always wanted to smoke (like in a wood stove/oven) a turkey. That'd be bad-ass.

The only meat I have no experience with really is Pork, because no one in my household eats it.

Also, not to "hijack" or anything like that, but, if I may, it'd be cool if we "shared" specifics.

Give this a try next time you plan on "grillin' " a fajitas type dish, get some chicken breasts, skin them and de-bone them (or buy them that way, but doing it yourself is always cheaper) ... make a marinade out of pineapple juice, orange juice, salt, pepper, maybe some oregano, spices you like ... maybe some garlic too. Putting in Onions and bell peppers (or whatever vegetables you want) is a good idea too. Leave it marinating in this at least 6 hours or so (the amounts are fairly relative, you can add close to equal amounts of liquids and it'll be good. If you want, add a little vinegar, and I do mean a little)

Make a fiery rub, just mix together, about a table spoon of each, Cayenne pepper, chili powder, and garlic (granulated is easiest). Then less amounts of salt, pepper, various spices you like. Then some oregano, maybe thyme. Mix that all together, and lightly rub it on the chicken before you put it on the grill. Not too much or else it'll be too hot.

Cook the chicken breasts as you see fit, I like grilling them then doing a 90%uFFFD turn, to make a criss cross pattern, then flipping over, by the time this is all the way you like it, the breasts should be cooked.

That's it for chicken, you can use a spicy marinade for some steak too, but that, I don't think, would work well with a sweet juice like marinade the same way.

Anyway, you can make rice pretty easily to go on it too: get a pan, put in some margarine/butter/spread .. not oil. Let it come almost to a boil put in a cup of your favorite rice (long grain is the easiest), mix it all around so all of the rice gets covered, then let it sit and cook. Brown the bottom, then mix it around again, it should look like wild rice (in a sense). Then add the water, like making any other rice dish, (if you're wondering, the water should cover the rice, but not fill the pan all the way. It should be enough to be absorbed while making the rice tender, but firm and there should be no liquid left when the rice is done) add in some spices, I like putting in crushed red pepper and a little tiny bit of that rub. Let it boil. Once it boils add in a good spoon full of tomato paste, you can use tomato sauce if you want, just add less water earlier on. Make sure it all dissolves. Put in all the other spices you like, mix it, then cover it, turn it down really low and the rule of thumb, so to speak, is to leave it for 20 minutes. But, since you may not have put the proper ratio of rice:water, you can check it in ten minutes or so, especially because you don't want the tomato paste to settle on top of all the rice, right? Just cook it covered until it's tender, mixed well, and tastes good with minimal amounts of liquid. If there's still too much liquid when the rice is how you like it, leave the lid off and turn it up a little bit stirring it often just to evaporate the water. Or you could strain it, but I don't suggest that, to much hassle.

As for those vegetables, I forgot to mention, put them in foil, wrap them not so tight, place them on the grill with the chicken. Don't worry about them burning, they'll be fine. Leave them covered, though.

Get some cheese, if you like it, tortillas, and all that good stuff, and have some fajitas that only take about 30 minutes (minus the marinade time, of course)

And of course... use a fork to hold the chicken while you cut it to fit in a tortilla.

Probably an overtly long explanation, but, I don't feel good, so shut up. :razz:

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

Crono said:
Underdog, I have a feeling. Nothing more.

Cool, group hugs all around then?

As long as you can tolerate me, I can reciprocate. No hard feelings then?

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

I never had any hard feelings ... seriously. I should use the smileys a little more, I think.

I would like to know if anyone else likes that "recipe", I know how to make mean salsa too. Oh, yeah, if you want some badass tortilla chips, just buy a pack of corn tortiallas (or buy some Masa and make your own), cut them in wedges, and deep fry them (in a skillet is fine) for about 45 seconds, until they're browning, in canola oil. They're good, you do have to make sure you fry them long enough though, if you don't, they'll be soggy and not crunchy.

Making some badass salsa isn't too hard either, it really depends on how well you can cut vegatables.

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

I don't ever measure how much Iput in, coz my steaks are always different sizes, but I'll try for measurements

For a good spicy beef marinade for grilling: (this is for multiple steaks or a tenderloin or for lots of kabobs)

• around 3/4 to a cup of Soy sauce
• 1 Tablespoon worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (or 1 Teaspoon minced garlic0
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground pepper flakes (like the kind at pizza joints)
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
• 1-4 tablespoons louisiana hot sauce (not tabasco) (too much will ruin it)

Let meat marinade overnight, then grill it. it works very well to score a grid pattern in the top of each steak so the pepper and pepper flakes stick to the meat better. Goes great with sauteed (fried in butter) mushrooms.

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I tried sniffing coke, but the ice cubes kept getting stuck in my nose.
http://www.dimebowl.com

I've never used liquid smoke, it's always the thing I see in the store that makes me curious, but being almost $3 a bottle, I don't care

Those "ground pepper flakes" is crushed red pepper.

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Crono</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>
Those "ground pepper flakes" is crushed red pepper.</DIV></DIV>

My jar of them doesn't have a label, coz I grow my own spices. lol. I have s**tload of ground, dried sage if u want some. :biggrin:

Also, about you wanting to smoke a turkey. I've got great news for you. There is a "do it at home" method that uses a monitor box, a small skillet, and other household stuff. I will find it and show you ASAP, my brother did some salmon this way and it was DELICIOUS. It was a thing on TV. Maybe i send you a tape or something... maybe DIVX it if it's important enough to you.

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I tried sniffing coke, but the ice cubes kept getting stuck in my nose.
http://www.dimebowl.com

Nah, I have plans to build a wood oven in my backyard (doubles as a smoker). Along with a badass deck ... and a hot tub ... my backyard will kick ass.

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

You have your own house? How old ye be? I thought you were only like, 21/22

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I tried sniffing coke, but the ice cubes kept getting stuck in my nose.
http://www.dimebowl.com

Well, it's my parents house, but they just came up to me the other day and were all, "Hey, design a backyard". Then my dad was like, "I did my part and let the grass go" ... it's all dead back there because he never took care of it ... I was like, "yeah? smooth".

I wish I had my own house, though ... I can't even get a job, I'm overqualified for normal jobs and I don't have my degree yet and no one has many internships going on that I'd be able to do.

It really pisses me off because, I'm learning all this cool stuff and I don't have the god damned time to make something of my own!

Oh yeah, I have financial aid for school, and I can't get work study, because apparently, you can't make more then 12,000 a year in your household ... which I thought was bulls**t because if you make minimum wage here: $6.75/hour ... that's more than 12k a year.

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

wow. you could always work at a food place. as a waiter. they get less than minimum wage coz they factor in tips and pay you less

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I tried sniffing coke, but the ice cubes kept getting stuck in my nose.
http://www.dimebowl.com

Did I mention I'm going to school at the same time and I don't have time to use the information I'm learning for my own wants, as it is? :razz:

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

what's your degree anyway? Bachelor's of the Pedantic Arts? I'm not really being mean, I was making fun of the people that think you're serious and chewing ppl out all the time. Also the ppl IRL that think you're always being condescending.

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I tried sniffing coke, but the ice cubes kept getting stuck in my nose.
http://www.dimebowl.com

Computer Science ... not sure where to go from there.

IRL? Never heard that one before.

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

IRL means In Real Life. like when people say "wanna meet IRL" they want to meet you at the airport and leave you on the runway without pants.

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I tried sniffing coke, but the ice cubes kept getting stuck in my nose.
http://www.dimebowl.com

well wadda ya know, it's excellent :smile: i'm a cook ^_^ that helsps a bit :razz:

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Hell, is an half-filled auditorium

I'm learning the ways of cooking Chinese food, but unfortunately I don't know where to obtain any MSG to make it actually taste good!

Also trying to learn some more prawn dishes- if anyone knows anything except prawn c**ktail please share :razz:

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-[Better to be Honest than Kind]-

The only thing I can cook is gunpowder, but most of you won't eat that, so...

Woah, polls run rampant...