by Frances Meupe

Created on: May 21, 2010   Last Updated: May 22, 2010

Most people who are not good cooks will readily admit it. They are usually light-hearted about it and will joke about the lack of their culinary skills. They love having others prepare meals for them or they eat out. Their refrigerator is usually stocked with frozen, easy to prepare dinners. These people fare well.

Good cooking is an art and there are many who are not gifted as culinarians. You may know someone who is challenged when it comes to pleasing the palate. There may be some cooks who started out poorly but are improving. They may often use you as a taste tester.

You may even be depended on to offer feedback on every meal. You can be honest and straightforward with these Paula Deen hopefuls. They want to be good cooks and want everyone to enjoy the fruits of their labor. They have hits and misses.

When a dish is not appetizing, tell them truthfully so they will know how to make adjustments and improvements. When something delicious is prepared, praise them. Keep them encouraged if you want to enjoy good home cooking.

Not everyone can cook like Rachel Ray, but there are those who think they can. However everything they cook is a flaming disaster. If they are boiling water and burn the pot, perhaps they shouldn’t be cooking. Do them a favor and yourself as well.

Just tell them they can’t cook. Acknowledge their efforts then present them with a set of cookbooks. Hopefully they will accept them in the spirit in which they are given. Everyone will thank you later.

There are those who buy take out or pre-prepared meals and put their own spin on it. They may add a couple of ingredients and take total credit for the masterpiece they created.

You know what they have done because you have done the same thing and yours tasted better. Even though you know what they’ve done, say nothing. If they can keep a secret so can you.

In the famous words of Monk,“here’s the thing”. The problem lies with those cooks who think their cooking rivals that of Julia. Since they place themselves among the high echelon of cooks, you have to be careful on how you choose to enlighten them. You may not be an acrobat but you will be walking a tightrope when you tell them they can’t cook.

They may not even believe you because everything they cook tastes good to them. They never get it when there is so much left over or that there are dishes that nobody touched.

They tell themselves that they cooked too much or that nobody was hungry. Sometimes the meals even look pleasing to the eye, and the smell can make you salivate. However the taste of the food leaves a lot to be desired.

A lot of cooks take their craft very seriously. Feelings are bound to be hurt when told you can’t cook. It is a very delicate situation and must be dealt with very gingerly. Just tell them that you know they love to cook and want others to enjoy the food. Tell them that they are on the right road but are not quite there yet.

Say to them that not only can they become a good cook. but a great cook because they are so dedicated to what they do. Tell them it might be a good idea to peruse some cookbooks. Suggest some of the good how-to videos and cooking shows. Follow with a hug if appropriate. Hopefully they will take your advice because they know that you wouldn’t deliberately say things to hurt them.

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