What makes a great cook? Is it a tender cut of meat, a short list of ingredients, a long list of ingredients, a gentle hand with an exotic spice, an ability not to over or under cook, patience, confidence, fresh ingredients? The leafy greens one buys at the Farmer's Market practically gleam with radiance and seem almost alive when consumed as opposed to the lack luster, droopy eared variety one finds on the supermarket shelves. My husband picked our first pumpkin from the pumpkin/tomato patch the other day and its orange brilliance was almost dizzying. A day or so later, although still lovely, it's vibrancy was fading. Perhaps it's a cooks technique that makes them special, surely that helps. Is it practice - after all that's supposed to make us perfect. Fine tools - or is it all of the above?
I think it's patience. Patience seems to come in all shapes and sizes, I can stir a risotto for as long as it takes, wait for a cut of meat to cook and brown perfectly but ask me to sift some flour or wait for dough to rise and steam will begin come out of my ears.
What do you think - what makes a great cook? While you're thinking, have a bowl of butternut squash and apple soup. It's very centering.
Butternut Squash and Apple Soup.
1 medium sized butternut squash, peeled and cut into chunks
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
2 apples, peeled and cored
2 garlic cloves, in their skins
1 onion, cut into quarters
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of cumin
Salt and pepper
Fresh sage, full leaves
Olive oil
Water (if preferred chicken or vegetable stock)
Heat the oven to 425F
Place all the ingredients into a large roasting pan (if the pan is overcrowded use 2 otherwise the veggies will steam instead of roast).
Pour over a tablespoon of olive oil to cover the veggies, garlic and sage.
Roast for approximately 50 minutes to an hour, until all the veggies are soft and slightly brown at the edges.
Remove to cool a little for 10 or so, squeeze the garlic cloves out of their skins and then blend all the ingredients in a blender with water, or if you prefer chicken stock or vegetable stock.
Check the seasonings.
Serve with a garnish of sage and a small dollop of creme fraiche, or if you prefer, a swirl of cream.
What makes a great cook? To me it is the ability to go through the pantry and the fridge and the freezer and create something from what you find there that your family smacks their lips over.
ReplyDeleteI think it's practice. Practice and confidence. And creativity. And a love of great food.
ReplyDeletethis looks lovely,, one thing I know for certain,, you are a great cook!
ReplyDeleteI think that, perhaps, being comfortable with cooking makes a great cook. I'm always amazed when people say "Oh, I can't cook"! Well, if you can taste or read or both, you can cook. For me, it's an intellectual exercise in many ways. Now may I have a bowl of that delicious looking and sounding soup?
ReplyDeleteBest,
Bonnie
That's a very good question. I agree with Tracy - practice, confidence, willingness to try new things. I think baking requires discipline and knowledge, cooking relies on a good sense of taste and and technique.
ReplyDeleteOh, that soup looks good! So perfect for a fall evening...I think being a good cook can be learned, but I although think some were born with the gift--I think you were, my friend!
ReplyDeleteJulie
The soup looks so good, great shots, too! I think a good cook has creativity and spontaneity, and can improvise when things are off a bit.
ReplyDeleteYour soup looks delicious especially with the apple incorporated! Now I'm glad I held off on posting my butternut squash soup till later in the week!
ReplyDeleteWhat makes a great cook? I think its good outcome/delicious food:) And of course this requires good ingredients and cooking skills!
ReplyDeleteWow, that soup looks amazing- simple amazing with the flavors of both squash and apple.
ReplyDeleteThe question is a hard one because I think it is two fold. I think to be a great cook you need creativity, patience and love. Honestly if you don't enjoy cooking then your not going to put your heart and soul into it and that will be evident in your dishes.
HAve to laugh, I had my comment all ready... word for word, great cooks improvise, see a batch of ingredients as dinner
ReplyDeleteLOVE the soup!
Mary, this looks appealing!i think if we cook from our hearts and with a couple more of practises, we will be a good cook! oh, i just posted a bread, i hope that will not cause the steam to come out from your ears!! ha!
ReplyDeleteBEAUTIFUL soup and almost like Autumn in a bowl......lovely! What makes a good cook? Intuition and creativity!
ReplyDeleteThe color on this soup is glorious! One of my votes on what makes a good cook - the willingness to take risks and experiment. ;) And I'm right there with you on the little patience for the dough to rise. Ugh. I wish I had it. Have a good one Mary!
ReplyDeleteThe soup looks lovely. I love soups and always have my soup cookbooks out this time of year. Finally it is cool in Houston. All of the windows are open and it feels great. Speaking of college, does your daughter want to return to England or stay in the U.S.? I think I under estimated the college transition for myself. I have moments of such sadness and then excitement.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what makes a great cook but I do know that this soup looks delicious! A perfect warming winter dinner :)
ReplyDeleteI think winter squash soups made a big stride when people started roasting the squash instead of boiling it before pureeing. I can see the richness of the flavor just in the color of your soup.
ReplyDeleteI think what makes a good cook is a person who is passionate about eating.
This soup looks lovely and I love how it uses so many of my favorite fall ingredients!! I must try this as I'm craving good comfort soups right now! Yum!
ReplyDeleteOh I love how soup looks! It looks so tasty and delish!
ReplyDeleteTo me, good cook means tasty food. I don't cook very well but prefer baking :D
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really wonderful, Mary! I'm with StephenC on the answer though. I think a truly great cook can work with anything and turn it into a delicious meal.
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge fan of butternut squash soup, but have never added apples before. What a great addition. The color of the soup is just gorgeous. xx
ReplyDeleteYum, Mary! This looks fabulous! To me great cooks have so many unique and differing facets; for some if just comes with their background and culture that becomes such a part of them as do the foods and traditions they were brought up with, others just have great imagination and creativity, while with others it grows from a tiny seed of curiosity and determination. I can't pinpoint it to one thing but I do think that you are a great cook!
ReplyDeleteYou are certainly a great cook,dear!Whenever I visit your blog,my mouth is watering:)))
ReplyDeletexxx
Looks scrumptious! Am I missing something or does the recipe not specify how many APPLES to use? Please let me know as I want to make up this soup a.s.a.p. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteNope, can't find any reference at all for apples in the recipe! I'mguessing you chop 'em and add with the veggies?
ReplyDelete