You can add me to the list of equally grateful. I thought I knew a lot about cooking and baking until I found this place and it hit me that I really didnÂt know much. Thanks to the generous folks here I am now a much better cook and have no fear when baking bread. I learn something new just about every time I come to the CF.

Thank you to everyone,
Claudia

Add me to the Don't-know-much group. I come to CF every day but half of the time I don't have anything to say simply because I don't know enough of what's being discussed. LOL

Al

That's the beauty of these forums...we each give and we each find something to take away.
And I don't care how long you have been cooking, there is always more to learn....and other recipes to try and ways to expand your cooking....and eating...horizons.
Linda C

As LindaC says, there's always more to learn. More recipes, more techniques, more new foods that haven't been tried.

Some people are perfectly happy to just stay the way they are, making the same things from the same recipes, day in and day out. I know we all have some favorites that we won't give up for any new recipe, but if not for this forum I wouldn't have learned to love sushi, or found out about high heat roasting or grinding my own coffee beans or the 7 year rule.

So, I keep learning, every day. I know what I like and what I don't like, but I keep trying the things I don't like and look for new recipes to use the things I do like but I've got to tell you, I don't think I'm ever going to learn to like pizza. Or olives.

Annie

Isn't the rule that you get less know it all as you get older? As opposed to the teenage know-it-all mentality. (Can you tell I live with that? lol)

Add me to the thankful list. Recipes and tips from the forum make me look like a kitchen whiz. Since dh comes from a family of excellent cooks, I like knowing I can hold my own.

Card carrying member of the still learning club. But I have to say, what a genuine and lovely post, country smile (and your name matches, too)

Jo

You can certainly add me to that lisst. As old as I am (and that's pretty darn old) I'm still learning. I am in awe of the expertise so many of the posters have and that doesn't even include the photos. I am envious in many ways.
All questions answered, with kindness and patience, no matter how trivial.

Thank you CF'ers.

jude

To answer your, Subject of Posting:

Maybe it is your Country Smile. Keeps you Young at Heart.
Lou

Socrates said, "I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing".

Jim

Socrates was right...almost.
I know 2 things......
1. I know nothing.
2. I can come here to find out!

I, too, am thankful for the patience, kindness, experience, generosity and brilliance of so many here!

Deanna

I've asked myself that question too Country Smile.

There are so many caring, sharing, wonderful members here. I've learned lots from my time on this forum.

Ann

I believe that cooking and the culinary arts is a never-ending learning process. I don't care what your age....you never know enough, nor know it all!! That's why Cooking Forums and sharing recipes/experiences are so important!

My Dad was a chef and I didn't take a genuine interest until after he had passed away. Now I really miss him and wish I had taken serious notice while he was still with me.

Thank you, country_smile for this post, bringing out the best in everyone.
It is so nice to read all the heartwarming responses.

I, too, have learned that the older I get, I don't know nearly as much as I thought I did.

The biggest problem, though, is trying to figure out how, as my eating horizons expand, I can stop the rest of me from doing the same thing! :>)

Rusty

Hello?!? I've been to culinary school, and I'm still learning! There is a virtual fount of information here on this board. And I join you in thanking each and every one of the sharing members for their inspiration and support!

Socrates was not so smart. After being tried and convicted of corrupting the morals of the youth and believing in gods of his own creation he was sentenced to death. BUT... he is left free to leave the city and go his own way alive. Off he goes only to have "friends" beg him to return because they are having a party. Socrates returned to the city and was executed.

The thing to be learned there is don't drink the hemlock.

: )
lyra

Thanks for this positive post and count me in the still learning camp. Even though my cooking has slowed to pure sustenance and not pleasure, I drop in daily to "visit" and learn!

Someone also said :

"If you think you know everything, your mind is Paralyzed"
Lou

OMG! What is the 7 year rule??? Yet another thing I don't know!!! Love this thread!
Joann

The more I learn about cooking the more I know I have a lot to learn. I am always amazed at the the little things I learn here almost every day, much of it from the newbies who bring such a fresh look to things.

As for baking........not enough time left in my life to figure that one out!

[Posted by hawk307
Someone also said :
"If you think you know everything, your mind is Paralyzed"
Lou ]

The fact is, I know everything, you know everything, everyone knows everything nowadays. What is that you cannot Google and know immediately?

It is how you use what you know that's important in this new digital age.

dcarch

Oh yea, saw the title of the thread and had to check it out. 53 and although I have "cooked" dinner most of my life at some point in the not too distant past I realized that I was still cooking like a just graduated college student. Since I'm at a stage when health is beginning a real issue I'm having fun trying and learning new things to decrease sugar, salt and chemicals. But I also try not to pressure myself when I fall back into my old ways. Sometimes c*mpbells and grilled cheese is just fine.

ghoghunter, the "7 year rule" was instituted in my life by Renee (beantheredunthat). Someone told her that our tastes change every 7 years, so if you don't like something now, try again in 7 years and you might. So, I keep trying things I don't like, hoping that I may have changed my likes and dislikes. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. I didn't used to eat brussels sprouts or peanut butter, but now I love them both.

dcarch, you certainly can google anything, but you have to sort through the information because, I've found, anyone can put anything on the internet and it's not all right, many times it's personal opinion, conjecture or just plain wrong.

Annie

I've been trying to learn to play the ukulele. The more I learn, the more I realize how much is left to learn. Maybe I should Google that. :-)

Jim

To everyone else, I'd like to add my thanks to the best group of gals and guys on the web. I've learned so much, and been inspired so very much.

Sometimes around holidays, I just can't seem to get in the spirit. When I come here, the enthusiasm is contagious and the recipes and help are just fabulous. I can't help it, I just take off and go with y'all.

Even though you don't know it, my MasterCook has a whole book entitled GardenWeb. with recipes by first name. Even if I haven't tried them yet, I know they're going to work.

So when the regulars post, and I really mean this, know a lot of lurkers just think you're 'it'. And I mean that in a good way. Thanks guys.

Jim :
Try that !!! Tommorrow you will know all about the Ukulele
and you will be playing like a Pro.

Dcarch:
I don't know everything. I didn't Google what I do know.
Didn't have a Computer my whole life.
I only bought it initally; a few years ago, to sell on Ebay.

One thing I have learned without the help of a PC.

It is better if you are educated, plus have good common sense.

I have used what I know to teach others and
when they have gone on their own,
they always remembered and appreciated.

This made me a substantial number of friends, thru the years.
Then there are some that have taken advantage of me but like the old saying,
" what goes around comes back around "

That's it, I quit !!!
Lou

I agree completely with everything posted so far.
This site is contagious,if you aren't motivated to try something new after looking at all these beautiful photos and recipes,then NOTHING is going to inspire you.

june

I am always learning, unlike Lou...the more I learn the more I know there is more still to learn.
Yes, like Lou I have educated myself and have been cooking for a long time and always willing to share what I know.
But daily I learn something new and very VERY often from the good cooks here!
I also have about 1200 recipes in my file on the computer....many simply say Ann's sauce or Annie's jelly or sol;'s or tricia or...or ...or.
I don';t think I have learned everything.....and am constantly willing to try something new that sounds good.
Linda c

Lou, to be fair about it (as much as it pains me LOL), dcarch has a good point about Google and, even more so, about the Internet itself. The ease of finding information on anything is simply incredible. As an example, in recent days I have looked up user manuals and repair manuals in pdf format on three different pieces of equipment, two of which were many years old. Did you know that kind of information is readily available?

To be honest, most of what I KNOW about the ukelele was learned from the Internet. It still seems impossible to contort my fingers into position for a B flat chord though.

Jim

Jim - Dcarch :
I probably worded my last Post , leaving you to think I don't use my Computer for info.

I have used the PC the same as you.

I was refering to my Building, Remodeling, Artwork,Hunting,Fishing, Shooting, Marksmanship, etc.
All this came about before Computers.

It mostly was hands on info, that you picked up here and there, by watching and
storing it in your brains PC.

I stored the good and the bad, so I would know what to do and not to do.

Also learned about the Poison Pen and Loud Mouths what they can do to hurt you.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I told this before.
When I graduated HS, I started working for my Uncle, who was a Masonary Contractor.
He watched me working and the others who were boisterous.
I remembered his words.
" whatever line you follow in life, do the best you can "
" whoever is over you, will know your work, by what you produce, not by what your mouth produces."

Lindac:
" I am always learning,unlike Lou "

Please don't refer to me in your Posts.
Haven't you done enough in the past 2 1/2 years, to help me.
If you want to try something new, Give my Fluffy Cheese Cake a try.
You know, the one I use Vanilla Ice Cream as an Ingredient.

FOAS:
If you freeze the CheeseCake it cuts easily. Then place pieces of Parchment in between each slice.

Dcarch: If I said something wrong, tell me about it.
Lou

Ahhh, you can Google lots of things, but, what if you don't know WHAT to Google? I pick up a lot of useful info by reading the conversations here...none of it anything I knew to even ask about or knew I needed to learn. Useful info or tidbits like the 7 year rule, for example.

The 7 year rule was new to me too. I was very familiar with the 7 year itch though. Anyone here remember that?

Jim

Remember that ??? - I have it !!!

The 7 year rule ??? - I always heard
" your taste will change, as you get older "
Lou

I too appreciate the OPs sentiments and am always learning something new when I come here. Thank you for expressing, so eloquently, what so many of us have known for so long.....

Alexa

Thank you CFers!!

Virtual group hug! Thanks everyone for spending the time and energy to answer my questions, even the ones I didn't know to ask until someone else asked them.

Sally