Does/Did Your Dad Ever Cook?

[TimeforMe]

My dad was an awesome cook. He had been a chef in the air force when he was a young man, so learned a lot from there. He also grew up in a very Italian household (as did Mom) so he learned how to cook from an early age. My mom did most of the every day cooking, but my dad was a great "supervisor" --used to drive Mom nuts.

 

[Kitty 34]

My Dad never cooked.

 

[bsnyder]

My parents had a complete division of labor in their 50 year marriage. He made the money, she took care of everything else. Everything! An odd arrangement in this day and age, but for them, it worked. In fact, I've realized more and more that it wasn't some chauvanistic thing on my dad's part, it was actually my mom who needed the arrangement the most.

My dad has been a widower for almost 2 years now, and he still doesn't even know how to work the coffee maker or the microwave. Cooking an actually meal would be laughable! He hasn't eaten a meal cooked in their home since my mom died. He eats out, every meal, or occasionally picks up some kind of take out. He's had lots of offers of home cooked meals, but he has always preferred to eat out, so he's very content with this arrangement.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

My dad used to make awesome (artery-clogging!) Sunday breakfasts, and would grill all summer long. Other than that, he was pretty helpless in the kitchen. On the odd occasion when my mom was away from home or ill, my dad made an entire meal by frying it in a pan, usually some sort of meat and some sort of potatoes. After about 3 days we'd be begging to help out with meals.

 

[Caropooh]

Yes, my Dad was a great cook! He loved to cook. I remember he made chocolate chip pancakes once when I had a friend over! She thought that was just the coolest! He liked to try out all kinds of recipes. My Mom was the main cook, but weekends my Dad did alot of the cooking.

 

[Steffi]

When I was little, my mom left for several years, so my dad did everything for the 5 of us kids. He was a better cook than my mom, because he cooked normal foods. He's 76 now and I'm still happy when he invites me over for his cowboy stew.

 

[tiggerlover]

Never in a million years. If mom went away for a weekend dad would go out for three squares a day.

 

[Amlee]

My dad is the family cook. He is also the main cook at extended family gatherings.

Now, my mother can cook. but it's my dad who does most of the cooking.

 

[MosMom]

My dad is a fantastic cook and actually is the one who taught me to cook.

 

[olena]

You should see some of the Moms I know. They can't make afternoon or evening plans because they have to cook and get the kids to bed all by themselves. My Mom worked some during my childhood, but it was my Dad who often cooked dinner for us, took us to karate, helped us clean the kitchen, bathed us and tucked us in. I have no memories of my Mom tucking me in. It was always my father. When I mention these things, I get looks like we were freaks. My father did as much housework as anyone else in the family, and that includes us kids. It's been a touch road with my DH. He grew up in a house with 'men's work' and 'women's work' and he quickly learned that I don't play that game. He can cook some things and he knows how to keep my kitchen straight.

 

[denisekayt]

My Dad cooked only about 3 things....toast w/peanut butter (peanut butter first, then the butter on top so the peanut butter melts ), microwave popcorn, and hot tea. He may have done the occasional frozen pizza, but I don't really remember that happening unless he was desperate

He was good about helping Mom around house, especially as they got older. He did a lot of laundry in the last few years of his life (I can still remember being shocked when he started that! He didn't really begin housework until Mom went back to work when I was in highschool).

 

[lyeag]

I so miss his cooking. He did most of the cooking because my mom was sick for most of my childhood and teen years. She could cook too, but my dad could make just about anything. He made some awesome homemade bean dip, soups, his own spaghettin sauce, pies, whatever. He died when I was 21, so I don't know too many of his recipes, but I have managed to make a few from memory.

He also did laundry, read stories, and would really talk to me growing up. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of him and all the yummy things he fed me!

 

[stinkerbelle's mom]

My Dad never cooked anything, he has sadly passed away now.

He always helped dry up the dishes and put them away, but cooking was not for him.

If Mum and I were going out for the day shopping, she would always leave him a cold snack for lunch, everything was there for him, he just had to boil the water to make the tea.

Very different from my husband, who is a great cook.

OMG, my dad was the best cook!!! He was always making big breakfasts on the weekends, even his toast was the best. He had lots of dishes he made, but he was probably best known for his baking.

I spent many a day in my childhood helping him make apple pies from scratch --crust and all. My favorite were the cherry ones. Later in life he took on making cakes & cheesecakes-- yummy.

My dh is an "over" cooker!

 

[NMAmy]

Both of my parents were fantastic cooks. My mother is much less fancy with her cooking than my dad was.

For example, my dad would love to cook for his girls. When I'd go to visit, he'd say, "Would you like a cheeseburger? Would you like swiss cheese on it with sauteed mushrooms and onions? Would you like homemade french fries? Fat fries or thin fries?" Then he'd serve the whole thing with fancy garnishes including a radish rose. And that was just if you happened to stop by unexpectedly. If he knew you were coming over, he had more time to plan and you'd get a very elaborate meal.

However, he was awful to learn to cook from because he was very rigid in how things should be done in the kitchen. We called him the anal retentive chef because he would make 100 homemade meatballs and each one would be perfectly round and the same size. And if you helped him and one was lopsided, he'd pull it out and have you fix it.

Boy, I miss my dad AND his food.

 

[Chattyaholic]

The only thing I remember him doing in the cooking department was to toss the salad for Sunday dinner. I don't ever remember seeing him do anything else in the kitchen (other than helping with dishes), not even making himself a sandwich.

 

[antmaril]

My father was a very good cook. He's been gone now for five years and we still miss his meatballs! He made the best chicken soup you will ever have!

Did I ever pay attention to how he made these delicious foods? The answer is no and I'm very sorry now. He never used a recipe, it was all in his head.

 

[Beth76]

My dad is really good on the grill and there are a few things that he makes in the kitchen. His German Potato Salad rocks!!

My DH is also pretty good on the grill, but can't do anything in the kitchen.

 

[grinningghost]

My dad always was and still is, the primary cook in the house. He cooked for a living and enjoys it - my mom can barely boil water properly.

 

[ZachnElli]

My dad is a master griller and he can make just about anything with a skillet, like eggs, bacon, homemade hashbrowns, pancakes, his specialty is his French toast. But most of the kitchen stuff was up to my mom. I remember him trying to make some of my mom's recipes and he'd always screw them up! But hand him a hunk of meat for the grill and he'll whip it into something tasty!

 

[LisaNJ25]

My step dad owns and diner and cooks all the time.. my dad on the other hand I have never seen his cook.

Hubby does cook