Learning to Cook at a Later Age

When I was younger and still single, I didn’t know how to cook.  I mean, I knew the basics—sauteeing, and frying, but I never really prepared a whole dish by myself.  I was just not into cooking. 

I remember when I was in high school, my mom was the chief cook at home.  She literally cooked three to four times a day.  She would cook at around 6 am for breakfast, just before I get picked up by the bus at 7 am.  She cooked again at about 10 am for lunch. Then, again for “snacks” (snacks are a must in the Filipino culture, and I mean snacking a whole meal, not just a piece of fruit or carrot) at 2 pm and, yet again at 5 pm for dinner. That was my mom’s routine every single day. 

My mom never expected me, my sister and my niece (we all lived in the same house) to learn how to cook, much less do the actual cooking. For her, we were still very young, and our primary role and concern was to focus on our studies.  She didn’t even want us in the kitchen.  She shooed us away as the kitchen was her turf.  She was the boss, and no one was to bother her whenever she cooked. 

“No one is born a great cook. One learns by doing.”

Julia Child

So, growing up, I had an excuse as to why I never learned how to cook.  My mother just never taught me. I’m off the hook.  But, there was a time my boss in the bank I worked with asked me if I knew how to cook.  My answer was, “a little,” to which he retorted, “A little?  Then, that means NO.  When it comes to cooking, it is either you do, or you don’t know how to.” he said.  That remark embarrassed me and made me feel so insecure.  (The question had nothing to do with my line of work…It was just something that came up during a casual conversation).

Years later, after my husband and I got married and I was pregnant with my firstborn, I began to learn how to cook.  It started when I was left at home the whole day, and there was nothing to eat except leftovers.  The leftovers were store-bought, and I was craving for Filipino food. I called my sister, and she then taught me over the phone how to cook. And, when we got together, I watched her cook. I learned more from cookbooks or cooking magazines, online, and the cooking channel.

“A recipe has no soul. You, as the cook, must bring soul to the recipe.”

Thomas Keller

Now, I’d like to believe that I’m pretty good at cooking.  Slowly, I realized that I love it, and I enjoy it very much.  It gives me satisfaction especially when I see my family enjoying the food that I make for them. 

It took time for me to get there, but I did.  It didn’t matter that I learned late (I learned in my 30s).  What matters is that I discovered it at a perfect time.  It was time when I have a family to feed, to satisfy their hunger, and to give in to their sweet cravings once in a while. 

“Cooking well doesn’t mean cooking fancy.”

Julia Child

Cooking is now one of my passions (aside from baking and cake decorating).  I love to keep on learning, experimenting, and creating my recipes.  Cooking makes me happy, and proud of myself.  It is an achievement for me.

And, I am so thankful to my mother.  She may not have taught me how to cook, but she surely taught me the value of food and cooking for your loved ones. More importantly, she showed me the importance of learning this vital skill at the right time.

“One cannot think well,

love well,

sleep well,

If one has not

dined well.”

Virginia Woolf