I can cook everything... but only a few items with any competence.

I have have spent several hours today on these forums, on may subjects, going back years and years.  Of particular interest to me was the section on Rice and Breads.  No matter how I try, these are 2 things that I can just never get right.. and I am not talking about perfect, or even passable but, they just always fail for me, so much so that I have almost given up trying.

Do you have something that always seems to elude you... that would share with us?

Quote from: Bob-A-Job on December 29, 2018, 10:17 PMDo you have something that always seems to elude you... that would share with us?

"Bl00dy Fred's chocolate cake".  So-called because only Bl00dy Fred could cook it.  Dr Fred never weighed anything, never timed anything, never used a Kenwood Chef, yet his chocolate cakes always turned out perfect.  Whenever I, or anyone else (as far as I know) tried, the result was always a dismal failure.  Very sad.

** Phil.

Red Wine anything but especially Jus. 
I have tried many different recipes but just never seem to be able to achieve the delicious sauce served in restaurants.  They say about cooking with wines that if you wouldn't drink it, don't cook with it.  I have used some pretty nice red wines, but I just never seem to be able to achieve a good dish, particularly the Jus, when cooking with Red Wine.  The only thing I have cooked well with Red Wine is Lizzottes Lamb.  Following the recipe to the letter produces the goods.  White wine seems to be more forgiving.

Bob-a-Job, try the School of Artisan Cooking Naan. It is really good, but don't bake it in an oven.  Tawa or pizza cooker if you don't own a tandoor.

Quote from: livo on December 29, 2018, 10:26 PM
Bob-a-Job, try the School of Artisan Cooking Naan. It is really good, but don't bake it in an oven.  Tawa or pizza cooker if you don't own a tandoor.

Waiting for New Years to make my resolutions.

Thanks for the advice but I think my failure is primarily down to the tools I use.. "a bad workman" and all that.. but like some others, I only have an electric oven + Halogen conductive hot plates (safer when the children were younger than naked flames).  There are not many months of the year when a BBQ is useable but an asian family with quite a large garden near me have built a rough 'fire pit', lined with blocks and I know they frequently cook something on that, rain permitting.

Quote from: Bob-A-Job on December 29, 2018, 10:17 PM
I can cook everything... but only a few items with any competence.

Focus on what you are competent at cooking, you seem to have a defeatist attitude
before you even start. Its only cooking

Quote from: chewytikka on December 29, 2018, 11:13 PM

Quote from: Bob-A-Job on December 29, 2018, 10:17 PM
I can cook everything... but only a few items with any competence.

Focus on what you are competent at cooking, you seem to have a defeatist attitude
before you even start. Its only cooking

Often what is in my head doesn't always make it to the page, I was thinking of a quote by a recently deceased author whom I admired when I wrote that.. As usual it doesn't always come across as I intended.
"All fungi are edible. Some fungi are only edible once." - Terry Pratchett.27 Oct 2016

Oh Dear, fair enough I think
Its still only cooking

Quote from: Bob-A-Job on December 29, 2018, 10:48 PM

.........There are not many months of the year when a BBQ is useable but an asian family with quite a large garden near me have built a rough 'fire pit', lined with blocks and I know they frequently cook something on that, rain permitting.

You can BBQ every day if you want to. I've BBQ'd today and I'll be BBQ-ing again tomorrow.

Gav I