What is your signature dish?

[MaggieXi]

I can cook, but fail at baking. The only thing I can bake that are any good are Russian Tea Cakes. Other than that I always get requests for: garlic mushroom bruchetta (super easy), taco dip, spicy thai shrimp soup, and chilli (family secret recipe).

[aephi alum]

I usually make kofta (Indian spiced meatballs) when asked to bring an appetizer or main dish to an event. It always disappears.

My kheema (another Indian dish - ground beef or lamb with onions and Indian spices) is one of the reasons my husband proposed to me.

Then there's my mom's mac and cheese. That has got to be the ultimate comfort food. Kraft dinner it ain't.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Stuffed eggs . . . deviled eggs . . . . You are Southern.

How's your little stuffed egg maker doing in the kitchen?

Finally, a guy posted to this thread.

Men who cook are sexy!

I think I'm justifiably proud of my baked beans and my pound cake with key lime glaze. Others always seem happy to see them. And when I have time (which seems to be rarer and rarer), I can do some pretty cool marzipan at Christmas.

Too few people realize what a skill it takes to make good baked beans! I do have a tube of marzipan paste, but haven't dared... yet!



THANK YOU!! When I was in grade school, the home ec teacher asked, "Who can make macaroni and cheese?" Everybody put up their hand. Then she said, "Without the box." I was the only one with my hand stjill up. SHe dared me, "Okay, how do you make it?" I responded, "Well, first you make a white sauce..." and she was stunned. I had my A on the first day of class and had been making white sauces since I was four!

Originally Posted by aephi alum

Then there's my mom's mac and cheese. That has got to be the ultimate comfort food. Kraft dinner it ain't.

THANK YOU!! When I was in grade school, the home ec teacher asked, "Who can make macaroni and cheese?" Everybody put up their hand. Then she said, "Without the box." I was the only one with my hand stjill up. SHe dared me, "Okay, how do you make it?" I responded, "Well, first you make a white sauce..." and she was stunned. I had my A on the first day of class and had been making white sauces since I was four!

[joliebelle]

The only thing that I make that always get raves is my baked ziti. I've never been much of a baker though...unless it comes from a box

[PrettyBoy]

My breakfast I make. Pretty much anything I cook is good.

[IrishLake]

I just made 2 pumpkin rolls. I can't wait to eat them!

[IrishLake]

^^^ I am one of those people who can bake, but can't cook. I can cook breakkfast foods, and I can throw stuff in a crockpot, and I can do just enough to keep my kids from starving But I can bake the hell out of cookies, pies, breads, etc! My husband (who is an academically trained chef) said it's a left-brain versus right-brain thing. People who are good at cooking tend not to follow recipes, are more artistic, etc. People who are good at baking are more technical, follow recipes to a T, etc.

[EE-BO]

Originally Posted by IrishLake

^^^ I am one of those people who can bake, but can't cook. I can cook breakkfast foods, and I can throw stuff in a crockpot, and I can do just enough to keep my kids from starving But I can bake the hell out of cookies, pies, breads, etc! My husband (who is an academically trained chef) said it's a left-brain versus right-brain thing. People who are good at cooking tend not to follow recipes, are more artistic, etc. People who are good at baking are more technical, follow recipes to a T, etc.

I think you have this exactly right. Baking requires precision- artistry too of course, but precision overall.

Cooking on the stove you can take all kinds of liberties- and should- to get to a particular result.

And the longer something cooks on the stove- the more leeway you have. One reason I like making beef stew is that it is impossible to screw it up. Results may vary, but when you cook that slow and that long there is plenty of time to taste and adjust as you go.

Not the case when you have to make it all in advance and put it in an oven with no room for error once the baking starts.

[DTD Alum]

I agree with the left brain vs. right brain interpretation. Additionally, I think that cooking and baking are so different that they may not appeal to the same people. I love cooking, but the idea of baking anything just bores me. I respect somebody who can bake amazing things, but it's just not something I'd want to do. I've never done anything more advance than Betty Crocker brownies or whatever. I suspect that most people fascinated by baking find cooking boring in a similar manner.

[AGDee]

I really enjoy both so perhaps I'm an anomaly. You can also take creative license with baking, you just have to understand what you're doing and what the result will be.

My signature baking thing is cheesecake. I take a lot of creative license with cheesecakes, with different toppings or fillings. You can't alter the basic liquid/fat ratios though.

My signature food is probably my homemade sauce although I don't make it often these days (it has to cook for hours to be "just right") so instead, I'll say my lasagna. My son absolutely loves my meatloaf too.

I can be more creative with baking than I can with cooking, partially because of my dietary limitations with Crohn's Disease. When you can't eat veggies or high fiber foods, it limits your cooking creativity a lot.

[honeychile]

Interesting discussion about baking v. cooking. My mother always said that if you're good at knowing about chemistry, you can be good at either.

[FSUZeta]

oops...i forgot my banana pudding, chocolate rum cake, million dollar pound cake,lemon poppyseed cake, key lime pie & homemade ice cream. i wish everyone would share the recipes that they can share.

[carnation]

Oh, I especially want to see the Key Lime pie and banana pudding!

[pshsx1]

Here at school, everyone I live near knows me for my burgers. Simple, but delicious.

[NutBrnHair]

I wanna go to honeychile's and FSUZeta's houses to eat!

I am best known for my guacamole.

Other favorites: spinach/bacon deviled eggs, Danish spaghetti, cranberry meatballs, curried fruit, cranberry gelatin salad.