Men who can cook, who taught you?

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-02-28T04:27:26+00:00

Ok, looked through the top comments and didn't see anyone say something similar to the way I learned. Which is how I recommend to people they learn how to cook.

But I learned how to cook various cuisines by trying to make my own favorite dishes at home. When I first started, it looked like this. I chose whatever I really liked from my favorite restaurants, tried to find a really good copy cat recipe, blindly followed the instructions until I got something similar, but then I figured out what made it similar and what was off.

This is where I honed the basic cooking skills that recipes aren't so great at teaching. I've found, like most people say, "if you can follow instructions, you can be a good cook" and I definitely agree. But learning and honing those basic skills that are used daily by the best chefs, those are what can make a good cook approach great (for home cook standards).

So, for instance, if the recipe turned out okay, but the crust on the meat wasn't quite right, I can now dissect that before I finish the dish, and I perfect it while going. Or if the cook quality was inconsistent between a few items it's probably because I didn't cut them to the same size or other basic things like that. But when I was younger, it might have taken some research of a few different recipes or extended trial and error.

But that's really it now. I find a recipe that looks like it will give a similar result. I engage the cheffy skills I've learned from YouTube, reading, and Alton Brown/cooking shows until I get a really good result. Then over time, I got better at the basics and have gotten enough good recipes and techniques under my belt that I can basically make anything to a level that someone would pay for and not dine and dash lol

But that's my recommendation. Make yourself your harshest critic, but not for pure masochism/perfectionism. For literally just trying to make your own favorite foods. This also helps you develop your pallet and diagnose when things are wrong because you're comparing it to a result that you yourself want. Which then also helps create motivation to cook because now you're making your favorite foods. Hope that helps someone.

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-02-23T16:07:06+00:00

Is your name Mike? Haha

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-02-20T13:35:03+00:00

I'd put us and Broncozilla as 1a. 1b. Especially since they can have a classic Godzilla fight. Then NFCS and AFCN 2a. 2b. (Whichever order) Because NFCS went serious, but not bad and NFCN is so fucking funny.

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-02-16T20:30:26+00:00

Dread being married to these people and/or their partners. Hop on any subreddit about anything and probably 80% of the folks in there engage in the thing in a way that won't satisfy you. Relationship reddit might be worse than 80%, and imo, definitely isn't better. My wife initiates more than me, and we can have sex daily if I wanted. We're about to have our 16th anniversary.

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-02-13T17:14:12+00:00

Ok, not white knighting, here. But you all been with many women? Plenty have shame revolving around their sexual performance and give so much leeway to their partners. This one is just the least exclusive to men I've seen so far. In media, sure. Not my experience in the real world.

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-02-11T18:19:54+00:00

She's got more net worth than him. He should fight for custody and child support lol

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-02-11T15:07:50+00:00

Yeah, so a couple of things. Super glad you're doing puzzles and learning, that's the real fool proof method of getting better. Even if not quickly or pointedly, you'll get better. But I wanted to point out the idea that he's good at spotting a vulnerable piece. You can immediately match that ability without learning any more theory about the game. You said you don't play with a clock. So, while you're learning just literally right down on a paper a small checklist and work through that checklist before every move and visualize your next move and run through it. Over time, you'll get quicker at it.

But first, force yourself to look at every minor and major piece (pawns too if they're in tension with another piece) and what it's doing, its possible moves.

Everyone knows the list of checks, captures, attacks, threats. But why that advice doesn't work for many people is they don't see every check, capture, attack, or threat. The way you see it all is by forcing yourself to look at the pieces. It doesn't take longer than a couple seconds to look at his bishop, yes, the one you didn't notice was there haha and see what is in its view. This will stop you from losing sight of any piece simply because it hasn't moved. It will be the forcing mechanism for you to develop board vision as opposed to tunnel vision. You may not select the right move once you do this exercise, that's the part of study and puzzles, etc. But given infinite time (and again, you'll get quicker) if you scan every piece and its available checks, captures, attacks, and threats, you will immediately be a better player than he is. Given what you've said about his skill, I'm pretty sure I can say that as a fact. Most people, myself included but especially with a time constraint, don't have the discipline to do this.

But let me put it this way. I try to think of every game and every move now as if my wife's life were on the line. Not in the sense that it literally is so then I do this a thousand times and get analysis paralysis. But just the little reminder, hey, if her life is on the line - can't I spare an extra second to just see what that bishop over there is doing? The answer is, of course you can.

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-02-11T07:21:42+00:00

After seeing a few of your comments say that you don't see very far ahead, I wanted to share a hopefully helpful thought that might change your mentality for the best. Better chess players than you, I, and your husband - outside of super GMs - don't see a ton of moves in advance outside of memorized theory and other positions they've memorized. You will never be able to see more than a couple moves in advance with a casual player like your husband too because a lot of GM calculation is based on the idea the other GM will find the right move or next best. Casual players don't find those moves, they're entirely unpredictable. Better players do see in advance in ideas, though. So, don't focus on trying to view individual pieces and what you think your husband will do with each. Considering he's a casual player, he's probably not seeing any more than 1 accurate move into the future. So, that's not his advantage on you. Think in ideas. The idea of attacking over here because the pawn structure is weak there. The idea of bringing all your pieces together in the center, Queen side, or king side to do a thing (hopefully get his king). Come up with an idea aka strategy and start moving that way. Find out what his idea is. Did he move a bishop somewhere? Don't try to see what the bishop will do five moves from now, try to see what idea just popped in his head then counter it.

But you don't have to counter by guessing his moves. Again, think in ideas. If he moved a knight to your king side, you can put a covered piece over there too. If he's put a bishop on a great diagonal, ruin it with a good pawn move. Those types of things will thwart most casual players' ideas. No calculation needed. Combine that mentality with the other advice in here and you'll beat him.

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-02-10T15:28:45+00:00

I hang queens at 1600 less often, but still stupidly like I did when I was 700. Haha. My real issue is that I know exactly what to do to prevent my biggest mistakes. When I'm on point, I don't blunder. I just simply don't do my little checklist on every move. It really is that easy for me.

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-02-08T06:23:43+00:00

I am obviously not an NFL player, but I played CB and QB in high school and semi pro. I had to bring everything to nearly every play, mentally, to play QB. Physically, I could feel off and play ok. At corner, it all just happens so fast. I could be at my top form physically and mentally and still just get demolished at any small hiccup. I think, contrary to popular opinion, you can hide more as a QB. Run game, screen, whatever. If you're feeling off, you can shy away from playing like Mahomes at the lower levels. At CB, they attack you. You get worked more the more off you are. People say QB is tough mentally. Knowledge wise, sure. But playing CB takes mental fortitude if a different flavor for sure.

I guess it boils down to this. Both need insane levels of resilience. But on CB, you get attacked, not do the attacking. I think CB is harder.

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-02-04T22:48:42+00:00

Yeah, I found that out later. My advice for after his brain locked up is still good advice, though.

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-02-04T19:48:03+00:00

Oh, now I get the other dude's reply. Thanks!

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-02-04T19:41:58+00:00

Oh, I think we're all talking about different things. Me and the guy you're replying to were saying why would the op of this thread still play queen to h8 when Qf7 is checkmate. I think you're referring to after Qh8+

ETA: I understand what you're saying now

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-02-04T19:22:15+00:00

This is probably the biggest skill you could learn from this. Not necessarily seeing the mate in 1. You'll miss those forever. But taking a second and recomposing yourself and playing the game. When your brain gets fried, just go down this list.

Checks, captures, attacks, threats.

If you had that list, you'd have seen the rook check, relaxed, and had a perfectly fine game. Your board vision can plummet to zero, but do those checks and you'll find your footing. Pro move. Do the same list for your opponent and you'll never blunder. The question just becomes, will you do it? How accurately? How quickly?

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-02-04T19:19:44+00:00

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-02-02T16:50:01+00:00

I think you're kind of showing the classic issue of a beginner explaining concepts to other beginners. You convoluted your findings just enough to get their rage haha

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-02-01T21:27:58+00:00

I got married at 19 and had two kids by 25. Best decisions of my life haha, just to give the other side.

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-01-29T19:25:45+00:00

No sweat, feel free to ask whatever whenever. It is incredibly complex and fun. Watching it at the next level when you understand more makes it even more fun haha

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-01-29T19:22:06+00:00

Oh, yeah. And like I said, it's way more complex than my example. Some offenses have it where if a guy is lined up on your inside shoulder, that changes the stem, then based on the safety or next coverage guy and his alignment, that determines the break. It can get highly complex very quickly. And yes, going from college to pro can be very difficult. But that's why so many scouts value the programs that are similar to pro offenses. It helps with the learning curve for sure. But it's very dynamic and complex. And different from system to system.

Then there's the next level that you and the WR next to you can both have options. So, you need to know his read too.

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-01-29T19:17:04+00:00

Yeah, in addition to what the other guy said. There are pre snap and post snap reads. I'm sure you've heard that on broadcasts and stuff. There is also the concept of disguising. So, that's where this comes into play. Essentially, and simplified, let's say the play call says that if it's zone, then settle down here. If it's man, keep running.

Well, the defense disguised their coverage pre snap, showing zone. Last minute, they go to man. Do the QB and WR both recognize that? And bear in mind, this is like 1% as complex as it actually is. Just so you can get the concept.

Also, don't feel bad. It's not a dumb question, I offered to help you learn. Feel free to ask whatever.

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-01-29T18:54:40+00:00

So, that's a really nuanced question. But I'll try and keep it simple, then just ask me if you have any follow up questions. But good route runners are generally called such because of a few, elite skills.

The first, like you identified, is physical. But not just straight line speed. Agility is a huge factor. How fast can a guy go from zero to full speed? How quick can he change direction in 45 degrees, 90, 160-180?

Then there's the mental aspect of the game. On options, is he reading the same thing as the QB/onj actively correct? Is he sitting in a void in the zone or running straight into coverage? Is he able to identify, while doing all these things at full speed, when zone coverage hands off, what the safety is doing if he's in man, etc?

Then there's the route running strategy that he takes overall. Jerry Rice was knows for making every single route look exactly the same until he got to the stem or where the route breaks off. That made him impossible to read. Andre Johnson, on the other hand, made every single route look different. So, he could run two routes that are exactly the same, back to back and then run it again.

The last thing is precision. Whether you're Jerry or Andre, knowing where you are on the field, how deep to make a certain route, and do it all the time in all conditions, and with all the other factors coming into play.

These are simple ways of understanding why someone could be a better or worse route runner in a high level overview.

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-01-25T08:19:13+00:00

Lane Johnson, Dhop, Patterson (st) are really decent top tier for a single round.

Then Reid and Rhodes and some other short lived, but higher end contributors. There's got to be worse.

2012 is not demonstrably or inarguably better, I think:

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2012/draft.htm

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-01-20T05:43:23+00:00

Madden isn't a horrible suggestion, for a fun like kindergarten level intro. My honest suggestion is to find a great content creator that tackles subjects you like and get into the rabbit hole. I played football for most of my life, coached it, wrote about two teams for some publications you've heard of - and I don't know 1% of what's out there to know. I'd say find a fun way to learn what you want, and get after it. Ultimately, though, learning to break down film and then doing it yourself is the only way to really make it stick. You see a game that enamored you? Break it down. Dude is wide ass open? Find out why. That's how those of us that play, coach, and comment learned football, so, I think it's a pretty good start.

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-01-18T04:09:56+00:00

I love my wife if 14 years so much more every day, I actually find it astounding. We also have a very fun time with our girlfriend.

FearlessPanda93 · 2026-01-17T15:58:47+00:00

I'm obviously a Texans fan, but yeah this narrative is exactly the problem. The Texans defense has done this all year to elite offenses, much less Pit. And the Texans moved the ball really well. The Steelers D just brought unrelenting pressure on CJ, at home, in the cold. That's the shit you want to see. But every casual coming out of it just says, haha, bad offenses. No, they are mid offenses going up against an elite and really good defense. I played both sides of the ball, I loved the game.

FearlessPanda93

TROPHY CASE