Young cooks make a mean 'Spider Web Soup'

[Food Network Fan]

Young cooks make a mean 'Spider Web Soup' By KRIS BERGGREN
I like Julia Child. She was an adventurous, smart and creative woman. But recently having tried Child’s recipe for coq-au-vin, I’m here to say that next-generation television chef Rachael Ray’s meals in 30 minutes make a whole lot more sense for today’s cooks. And I’m not the only one who’s drawn to Ray’s casual style. Take an informal poll of the kids you know, and you may be surprised to learn that the Food Network has a big fan base among the younger set.
Teens I know say they’re entertained by flashy shows like “Ace of Cakes,” “Iron Chef” and “Dinner Impossible,” which feature chefs mastering unusual cooking challenges: gourmet dinner for 500 baseball fans using only ballpark ingredients; a cake shaped like the Taj Mahal; or amateurs competing against top chefs.
My daughters, ages 12 and 15, prefer such down-to-earth cooking gurus as Ray, “Simply Delicioso’s” Ingrid Hoffman with her Latina flair, and Paula Deen, whose no-holds-barred Southern recipes may be nutritionally incorrect but are nevertheless irresistible. We may demand homogeneity from our newscasters and politicians, but we love the regional flavors, accents and style these personalities bring to the table.
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[BerryBaby]

There are still some us who would rather cook like Julia Child than throw meals together in 30 minutes or less. Maybe because we grew up Julia and she made cooking, and dinner, seem special.

Many of the shows today, IMO, are too hurry-up. Dinner should be a time of having family together and making it a time of the day when you share your stories.

If your schedules are so demanding, then maybe it is time to eliminate some activities and bring the family back to the dinner table and enjoy your time together.

[Food Network Fan]

I agree, I enjoy taking the time to make a good meal. We eat at the table every evening. Only occasionally will our schedules not allow it.

[BerryBaby]

That's wonderful to hear! So many people are in a hurry and don't take the time. Dinner time with the family, I think, is the most important time of the day.

Even though most evenings it is just me and my husband, I light candles and set a very pretty table. (Not a tablescape..just a very elegant, simple table.)

On the weekends our daughter comes over and I do the same. Last weekend, though, she made dinner and did everything. It was SO delicious! I can't even begin to say how proud and happy I am that she is such an accomplished cook. She makes up her own recipes and they are amazing.

When she was in college friends would ask her over to teach them how to cook. She recently had a request to make her Eggplant Parmesan for a potluck. Yes, young 25 year olds were having a Potluck dinner and it was planned by her male friend who is a Food Network fanatic!

Really warms my heart to hear these stories from her. People told me she was too young when I started showing her things in the kitchen at age two. Guess they were wrong.

[Chefnot]

Well I leave the Julia Child cooking to my wife. Far too many steps for me, I get lost.

I cook what I call "one step" meals. Hey, my ribs were good last night!

[Food Network Fan]

I think if your kids see cooking is something you enjoy they get interested in it too. I also think part of the reason Rachael Ray bothers my son is that she doesn't do things like I do it's all chop big chunks and throw it in, that's not how mommy does it.

Heaven help the woman that marries him if he doesn't outgrow that.

[Chefnot]

I agree. All three of my oldest love to cook and more like their mom than their dad.

[BerryBaby]

Our daughter likes the PBS cooking shows. Anyone else watch those?

[Food Network Fan]

We never watch anything on PBS, my son never even watched Sesame Street. My daughter did some years ago but we have too many other options to choose from now.

[BerryBaby]

She refuses to have cable as she says there are many great shows to watch on PBS.
And, honestly, she really doesn't watch too much TV. Too busy working but enjoys the cooking shows on the weekend.