Cooking

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Can't see a thread like this, so I'm starting one. What's your experience of cooking- love it or hate it, great at it or awful at it, or somewhere in between? Do you think your autism has any affect your cooking?

I'm a decent cook when things are going well, but executive dysfunction gets in the way a lot. When I'm tired, stressed and hungry, I can barely manage beans on toast, let alone the string of 10 or so steps it takes to make a curry! I cook a lot of vegetarian food, despite not being a vegetarian. That's partly because I just like it, and partly because handling raw meat freaks me out a bit. Not a great recipe-follower- I'm used to bodging something together based on what I have in, rather than tracking down a precise list of ingredients.

I enjoy cooking and baking, especially when what I have prepared is enjoyed by those for whom I have prepared the meal.  I especially enjoy preparing a meal "from scratch" and seeing my family and guests "fight" over who gets the last serving of something I have prepared, especially when they "fight" over who gets to take home the leftovers (if there are any).  Sadly, this coronavirus (and subsequent quarantine) has made it difficult to prepare four-square meals.  It is easier to cook for twenty than it is to cook for two.

Cooking is really good for your mental health, especially cooking to be feeding others. Feeding and providing for others who are grateful is an excellent feeling.

I agree though executive dysfunction is an absolute bastard. But when you do get in a good state of mind smashing out an epic Sunday roast with tons of seasoning in everything is the best. I've recently learned how to do slightly spiced roast potatoes with thyme, they have a nice texture.

If you chop carrots long ways and put maple syrup on them then let them cook in the oven after boiling them a bit they taste amazing.

I never actually liked cooking before but since I saw what an impact it has on your mental health it's actually awesome.

I had and still have no interest in cooking, just eating. Eating is necessary, not entertainment.

I was a bachelor for a couple of decades and kept my kitchen simple. I could go in there and get food. Either a prepared-packaged something that all you had to do was heat it and eat it, or simple sandwiches. And I liked it! When I want food I want food, not a kit. For anything more complicated I'd go to a restaurant--and most often fast-food restaurants were (and still are) just fine with me (and, like a good Aspie, once I am familiar with a place my orders become rather predictable).

The first time my future bride came to my home she told me she would cook me a meal. Then she opened the cupboards and fridge. A loaf of bread; peanut-butter and jam; some canned sandwich spreads; some individually-wrapped slices of American cheese; frozen "TV" dinners; and three kinds of water. That was sufficient for me to go into the kitchen and get a meal--her view was drastically different. We went out.

Fortunately, she genuinely likes to cook and prefers to feed me rather than have me fend for myself. Between that and the "corn-muffin incident" I have extremely limited kitchen privileges.

But there is still a shelf and a small area in the fridge that are stocked with "husband food" so when I am on my own I can still go into the kitchen and quickly get a meal. I have to be careful, though, because the rest of the kitchen is stuffed solid with food "parts" and when I am in there I have to continuously fear for avalanches.

I do take her to nice restaurants, of course--not the fast-food ones where I go on my own. Though I do favor a few specific restaurants and she knows what I will order when we get there.

I'm a decent cook, but my executive functioning issues prevent me from doing it more than 1-2 times a week. I am very rigid when it comes to following recipes, so that makes the stuff turn out pretty well, but it takes me forever. I get very particular about chopping veggies, causing it to take longer than it does for others. It's also necessary for me to prepare and set out all of the measured ingredients or else I risk a meltdown.

Having someone to cook with has reduced a lot of the stress and it pushes me (and probably him too) to make sure it gets done. Though it can be stressful to manuever in a tight kitchen with two people, and if we don't know the recipe very well it can be chaotic to the point we can stress each other out.

I enjoy baking much more than cooking. Something about mixing all of the ingredients into a smooth concoction is soothing. And I get satisfaction from measuring the ingredients precisely.

The trouble with baking is that doing it for just 1 or 2 people means that I end up eating way too many sweets. It can be hard to limit myself to 2 cookies when Mr. ABG wants to eat 6 .

I actually like cooking when I can/do. My executive functions play a part for me too. I totally feel the talk of not being able to manage beans on toast sometimes. It can be impossible for me to to figure out the finer mechanics of peanut butter and jelly on bread. It sucks. Other times, I can coordinate a feast for ten easily. Meh.

I also go through phases where I can't or don't eat. I don't cook when I'm like that, and it's stupid because I'm way more likely to eat food I make from scratch than food I buy that's shove in the face ready to eat.

I dunno. When I like cooking, I really like it and get into it though. I'll do things like make my own pasta noodles, homemade bread, sauces, paneer, tahini, even granola cereal... I make all my stuff in bulk when I'm into it, then freeze it so hopefully when I can't think to cook all I need to do is microwave something.

My cooking capability is largely restricted to putting things into the oven or in a pan, then removing them after a set period of time. Ready meals, fish fingers, scrambled eggs, baked beans, etc. Using the microwave more frequently these days as well.

My current dodge for making food midweek is Burrito Surprise. When I make something like a curry, chilli or casserole (which is usually at the weekend) I freeze some half-sized portions of it. I thaw them out later for use in burritos, often with no clue what's actually in them. I am very strongly motivated to eat burritos. There's just something about the tortilla/rice/sauce combo. That and the fact that I've got the tricky bit ready-made seems to propel me through the 4 or 5 additional steps to the completed meal.

I like it in moderation, especially baking. I don't have a problem focusing and if I'm not learning a new technique I will need to listen to something while I do it so I won't become bored. There are some things that take a little longer than they would for most people (like zesting fruit), but its not a major issue.

Cooking is challenging for me due to poor executive functioning, poor memory/cognition, trouble with movement in right arm and fingers, food sensitivities/special diet and sensory issues.

I do like to cook, however, mainly because I like to eat.

I suppose I like to cook, but I rarely try out anything new due to the fear of messing up and wasting ingredients. Food is expensive here. I also read the recipes a lot while I cook, even for foods that I make often, since I have trouble memorizing how much of which ingredient do I need. I make pretty simple stuff, as in what's considered ordinary everyday home cooked food here. In fact, I don't think I've ever tried to make anything that an average person would consider complicated.

I have gone in and out of cooking practice. Once upon a time I cooked meals for seven on a wood cook stove. Baking in a wood fired oven just cannot be beat.

There was a period when I baked a lot, conventional oven.

Now I am trying to add more fresh vegetables into my diet and looking up new recipes. It takes time and a lot of effort. My poor EF works overtime. But it is also kind of fun. Yesterday my husband made standard tacos (meat, shell) and I put on top shredded radicchio, pomegranate and avocado. It was surprisingly tasty.

I hadn’t ever had radicchio before and was introduced to pomegranates quite recently.

I like cooking and sometimes I bake things like muffins.

I'm able to cook simple things like roasts in the slow cooker, spaghetti with meat sauce, meat and spatzen, Kraft Dinner, Shake n Bake chicken and scrambled eggs.