Unsecure chicken perches

[Willow]

I'm struggling to get my 14yr son to learn how to cook. His younger brother is easy, he loves his Sam Stern cookbooks but will happily try things from other cookbooks as well. He did a whole meal last w/e where he'd planned the meal, typed up a menu, wrote me a shopping list and cooked the lot (took him 2 hrs). He also loves helping me bake and has his own favourites.

 

His elder brother loves to eat but can't be bothered to cook. I took them to Wagamama's during the week then pointed out we have the cookbook which has a recipe for his favourite meal in it (and it's easy to make) but he keeps saying he'll do it next w/e (has been doing that for the last 3). I got him to cook Nigella's victoria sponge this morning as that is so easy and he enjoyed himself but he still won't consider trying anything else I think he's slightly put off by how long his brothers meal took to cook but I have pointed out he can do something much quicker.

 

So anyone any more ideas ? I think I might make it a rule they have to bake something for their packed lunches at the w/e if they want cake in their lunchboxes to get them baking.

[craftyhunnypie]

Hows about a pampered chef party at your home - where he gets to join in? Or hows about taking him Lakeland plastics & let him choose some cooking gadgets to try? Other than that a little course or a cooking sleepover party for him & his mates - pizza party or the like?

 

Emma.x

[Cinnamon]

I have the same problem with my daughters.

My 16 year old is a great instinctive cook,& I often come home from work to find that she has rustled up a cake,some cookies or muffins.

I can leave her to cook for herself with no worries - just as well as the only veggie in the house she often has to fend for herself.

 

My 18 year old can cook,but really can't be bothered when there are much better things to do.

She may be off to Uni in the autumn & I think it will be a real shock to her just how much is done for her around the house. I suspect she will live on pasta in sauce for some time

I even bought her a students cookbook for Christmas & am making up a recipe book for her....but she is just not interested

[majorbloodnock]

I've certainly no foolproof method of getting someone to cook, but I can think of a few pointers that stand a fair chance.

 

1. Wherever possible, I like to avoid faff, and find it's a real motivator for budding cooks to realise how much effort they can easily save. For instance, I almost never peel spuds any more, merely giving a quick scrub and then cooking skins and all. Ditto carrots. It's amazing how much time in both preparation and clearing up you save as a result.
   
2. It's not the cooking time that is likely to put someone off so much as the personal effort. A stew or casserole may take hours to be ready, but a quick browning of the meat and root vegetables and the addition of a bit of stock, wine or beer is hardly a lot of effort, especially when you take heed of point number 1 above.
   
3. Building up a small repertoire of successes is probably going to be better than encouraging someone to be adventurous and rely on cookbooks. Once they have a pool of perhaps a dozen meals they can cook confidently, they'll probably start branching out of their own accord.

 

As I say; only a thought or two...

[jlo]

Anyone know how to get a 44 year old to cook???

[Alis girls]

Go on strike - the 44 yr old being hubbie or you?

[Lesley]

Perhaps suggest that they each cook on one night a week so that you have some time off?

 

My daughter and family were all late home this evening and my grandson (10) cooked 'Fishfinger Pie' for everyone.....a recipe from Scouts! - my granddaughter(13) can cook but would rather make something sweet that never sees the outside of a mixing bowl before she scoffs it all My son - when he was at catering college, training to be a chef - used to heat up frozen pizzas and slap them between slices of white bread and eat them walking from the kitchen to the front door, before going out..........needless to say, he could cook but couldn't be bothered at age 17 - he cooks all the time now.

 

I shouldn't worry - if the example is there then they will all know how to do it......when they want to

[Old Speckled Hen]

I know this isn't answering your question but did you know that many s"Ooops, word censored!"y flats built in London do not even have a kitchen?

I was shocked by this and a developer friend of mine said that many "young single things" don't bother with anything but a coffee in the morning, head off to have breakfast out before work and eat out with their friends in the evening.

[Cinnamon]

Just woken up from a flu addled slumber to find that the 18 year old has taken herself to the shops,bought ingredients,found a recipe and made honey flapjacks .

You could have knocked me down with a feather......there is hope for us yet

AND she really enjoyed it too!

 

Of course something savoury & healthy might have been better,but its a start

[Mrs Webmuppet]

I suppose I am lucky that Little Miss Webmuppet ( ok she's not a teen yet ) likes cooking and has a selection of cook books of her own ( she asked for a Rachel Allen one for Christmas), she loves to help in the kitchen and has been known to cook a whole meal ( main course and pudding) herself - I only had to lift the heavy saucepans and do the oven bit.

[chickencam]

My son who is nearly 15 has decided to cook as his skill for bronze DofE

 

He loves to cook and made us spag Bol. from scratch a few weeks ago, it was lovely apart from the huge chunks of garlic, he likes to taste it

[majorbloodnock]

....the 18 year old has taken herself to the shops,bought ingredients,found a recipe and made honey flapjacks......Of course something savoury & healthy might have been better,but its a start

Honey flapjacks? Hey, honey and oats are practically health food!

 

To be honest, I already know how lucky we are. My son (9) will happily do a bolognese or carbonara, a crumble, cake or loaf. He's happy to try his hand at most things and his real asset is his knowledge that he can follow a recipe accurately. Much of our family socialising is done in the kitchen or around the dining table, so it's hardly surprising that he enjoys diving into the cooking.

 

My daughter (4) is somewhat more easily distracted, but she's coming along nonetheless. Her enthusiasm exceeds her accuracy, but she'd becoming steadily more capable so long as she's supervised. Still, she's got the making of cups of tea sussed, and that's the really important thing....

[Alis girls]

mine enjoy cake making but only so they can lick the bowl which really hacks me off as I want to lick the bowl - so wait till they are at school

[Valkyrie]

When they find a girlfriend, stay committed to said girlfriend, prepare to rent a flat - that's when they suddenly get interested. Which is so silly as he loved Ainsley shows and did make things when he was younger.

 

Edited to add he is 20!

[Cinnamon]

After a very successful visit to The University of Surrey,my girl is suddenly quite fired up about cooking.

 

I think it has finally dawned on her that I won't be here to cook for her

 

She doesn't really do the usual student fare - hates baked beans,chilli con Carne,Shepherds Pie, in fact anything with mince, so I am going to have to sort out some good cheap recipes for her,so she won't starve or bankrupt herself eating at the on campus Starbaucks!

[Chucky Mama]

All on mine have cooked from tiny. We tend not to have any snacks in the house and so if they want something they have to cook it. ES (17) will often make a batch of chocolate chip cookies, fruit cake etc - tends to devour the whole thing himself though In the holidays all 3 children (17, 15, 13) take it in turns cooking supper. Maybe keep it simple to start with. Minimum ingredients and clearing up and the sort of snack type food that he enjoys eating. Perhaps do it with him the first couple of times so that he can see how quick and easy it is. There lots of 'cheat' recipes around that you could start with. Easy pasta sauces are good.