There’s something I’ve been thinking about lately.
I am not a chef. No offense to those chefs out there!
I never went to culinary school. I don’t run a restaurant. No one is waiting on me to plate twelve identical dishes under pressure while someone yells “service!” from across the room.
And honestly? I wouldn’t last five minutes.
I watch many of those Food Network Food competitions and although I LOVE watching them, I couldn’t be confined to cooking something under pressure. Without knowing the ingredients until 4 minutes ago? And I have to create something in 20 minutes? Um, no. I need to plan and practice. No food competitions for me! 😉
I am so impressed by professional chefs, but that is just not me.
I am a home cook. Where I can take my time, plan things out and cook things MY way. And I’ve come to realize…that matters more than I ever thought it did.
And yeah, over the years, I’ve overcooked stuff. I’ve undercooked stuff. And we AINT talking about those meals, RIGHT? 😉
I’ve practiced cooking and baking and I’ve gotten SO much better over the years. I think it’s important to keep on trying. And failing.
It’s how we learn. And get better.
My Kitchen Is Not a Restaurant
My kitchen is a little messy sometimes. BIG SURPRISE.
There’s usually a dog at my feet hoping something “accidentally” falls. The dishwasher might be full, or not emptied yet. There’s a spoon resting on the counter that I swore I’d wash “in a minute.”
And when I cook, it’s not about perfection.
It’s about:
- feeding my family
- trying something new
- going back to something old
- making a Tuesday feel a little less like a Tuesday
Chefs cook for precision.
Home cooks cook for people.
I Cook With Real Life Happening Around Me
When I was raising my kids, dinner wasn’t a calm, peaceful experience.
It was:
- homework on the table
- someone asking where their sneakers were
- music playing in the background
- me trying to remember if I added the salt already
And now?
It’s quieter. Different. Sometimes it’s just Lou and me. Sometimes the kids are home and the house feels full again.
But the heart of it hasn’t changed.
I’m still cooking in the middle of life.
Not separate from it.
Sometimes we have family dinners or friend dinners when we can slow down, relax, drink and eat, with no real agenda. I love those days. Lou and I agree that we need to do MORE of those.
Sometimes I think we should have something like an open house. Plan a meal and open it up to any one of our loved ones, family or friends. During a weekend day.
“Lee-Ann is cooking up a soup and maybe some comfort food like Grandma’s chicken and potatoes. Let us know if you are coming!”
I would love to do this EVERY WEEKEND. Years back, my in-laws would have Sunday lunches for a long time. We would have lunch and a few of us would then read the Sunday paper or take a couch nap!
I think it’s time for US to do it. To take on this tradition. Every weekend. Family and friends. Would you come over?
I Don’t Cook Perfectly – And That’s the Point
I eyeball things.
I change recipes halfway through.
I use what I have instead of running to the store.
Sometimes it turns out amazing. Sometimes it’s just…fine.
And you know what? Fine is okay.
Because home cooking isn’t about impressing anyone.
It’s about showing up. Again and again.
Putting something warm on the table.
Why Being a Home Cook Matters
Here’s the thing I’ve really come to believe.
Home cooks are the ones who:
- keep traditions alive
- pass recipes down without measuring cups
- make food that people remember years later
- feed people not just physically, but emotionally
No one ever says, “remember that perfectly plated restaurant dish?”
They say:
“Remember Mom’s Chicken in the Sauce?”
“Remember Mom’s White Chicken Chili?”
“Remember the smell of Mom’s homemade bread?”
“Remember when Mom would make grandma Concetta’s meatballs?”
That’s us.
This Blog Is Not Run by a Chef
And I think that’s why it works.
Because when I share recipes here, I’m not saying:
“Here is the one correct way to do this.”
I’m saying:
“Here’s what I do. Come try it with me.”
You don’t need special training.
You don’t need fancy tools.
You don’t need to get it perfect.
You just need to start.
Come Cook With Me
That little phrase I use? “Come cook with me.”
I mean that.
Not “watch me.”
Not “try to keep up.”
Come stand in the kitchen with me.
Have a glass of wine.
Let’s figure it out together.
Because being a home cook isn’t about being the best.
It’s about being there.
Final Thoughts
So no, I’m not a chef.
I’m a home cook.
I cook for my family.
I cook for my friends.
I cook for the people who gather around my table.
And if you’re doing the same thing?
You’re not “just” a home cook.
You’re doing something that matters more than you probably realize.
🐶 Moose’s Take
If Moose had a say in all of this, he’d probably tell you:
“Home cook = more snacks. Chef = probably less snacks.”
So really…this worked out exactly as it should.
