Quotations about Cooking
...gastronomy was the only science which he revered as a dogma. ~Edith Wharton, "The Eyes," Tales of Men and Ghosts, 1910
As Ichabod jogged slowly on his way, his eye, ever open to every symptom of culinary abundance, ranged with delight over the treasures of jolly autumn. On all sides he beheld vast store of apples.... great fields of Indian corn, with its golden ears peeping from their leafy coverts, and holding out the promise of cakes and hasty-pudding; and the yellow pumpkins lying beneath them, turning up their fair round bellies to the sun, and giving ample prospects of the most luxurious of pies; and anon he passed the fragrant buckwheat fields, breathing the odour of the bee-hive, and as he beheld them, soft anticipations stole over his mind of dainty slapjacks, well buttered, and garnished with honey or treacle.... ~Washington Irving, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"
If they like it, it serves four; otherwise, six. ~Elsie Zussman, 1974
Why make trouble when you can make pizza? ~Keith Wynn, 2020
The discovery of a new dish confers more happiness on humanity, than the discovery of a new star. ~Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, The Physiology of Taste; or, Transcendental Gastronomy, 1825, translated by Fayette Robinson, 1854
Cookery puts into practice chemistry, biology, physiology, arithmetic, and establishes an artistic taste. And if our motto is, "Let us live well, simply, economically, healthfully and artistically," we have embraced all the arts and sciences. ~Sarah Tyson Heston Rorer
Instead of deadlines and dread, my home now smells like strawberry-apple bread and joy. I should bake more often. ~Dr. SunWolf, professorsunwolf.com
So far, nobody has ever been able to make good pies on a production basis — to the best of my knowledge. A pie is something that requires a lot of personal pampering. ~J. W. Cunningham (1881–1971), Corn on the Cob, 1952 [This line may have been first published as early as the 1930s, in a Toledo, Ohio newspaper.
Any one can give a taste to food by adding condiments and flavorings, but to develop the flavors of the foods themselves is an art. ~Anonymous
Plain Sewing and Cooking are so old-fashioned that they are fast becoming new Fads. ~Minna Thomas Antrim (1861–1950), Don'ts for Bachelors and Old Maids, 1908
The fact that raising any oil to a temperature high enough to brown it, decomposes it and produces a poisonous acid — a powerful irritant — is one of the best known to science. ~Evora Bucknum Perkins, The Laurel Health Cookery, 1911
In good cookery there is no place for the
Janet... is one of those delightful, old-fashioned cooks who don't care a bit if they ruin your digestion as long as they can give you feasts of fat things. ~L. M. Montgomery, Anne of the Island, 1915
Serve... shaken (not stirred)... ~Evora Bucknum Perkins, The Laurel Health Cookery, 1911 [No, it's not about martinis but cream in green beans.
Shake the vessels instead of stirring. ~Evora Bucknum Perkins, The Laurel Health Cookery, 1911 [when cooking fruits, legumes, etc. so that they don't stick and scorch
If you are single, get married on Thanksgiving Day so you can insist upon eating out on your anniversary. ~Phyllis Diller, "How To Reconcile the Bank Statement and Your Husband And Other Ugly Problems: What Dr. Brothers Doesn't Tell You," Phyllis Diller's Housekeeping Hints, 1966
And as for woman, did God not clearly make her a cook, with art in her brains, to create delicious foods? ~Edward Payson Powell (1833–1915), "An Old-Time Thanksgiving," 1904
Sometimes the only successful apology will have to involve baking. ~Dr. SunWolf, professorsunwolf.com
Food should be prepared with simplicity, yet with a nicety which will invite the appetite. ~Ellen Gould White (1827–1915)
Homemade meals — especially mommy meals — are life's most pleasant fuel. ~Terri Guillemets
Lemon cups, having a slice cut off from the ends so that they will stand, may be used for mayonnaise or small servings of salad. ~Evora Bucknum Perkins, The Laurel Health Cookery, 1911 [great environmental tip for avoiding plastic!
A chef's two best friends are salt and praise. ~Terri Guillemets