What is a “Country Cook?”

A few months ago, I made a blog post about Meal Prep for Country Cooks. A few days ago, it drifted through my mind to wonder just what is a “Country Cook.” The more I thought about it, the more I realized that there wasn’t an exact definition. Searching the Internet leads to a blog called “The Country Cook” and of course, Cook’s Country from Cook’s Illustrated. But nothing that gives a definitive answer to my question.

So I started out to create a working definition. Here I go!

A Country Cook is a cook!

Most of the dishes served will be made from scratch by them. While some folks may think that using processed foods, or frozen meal items is perfectly fine, a ‘country cook’ wants to know what is in the food they are serving. If you have a picky eater or someone who needs a special diet, cooking it from scratch is the only way to be sure. When it comes to a holiday meal, this is a source of pride for them.

A Country Cook is frugal

Notice I said “frugal” not stingy or a tightwad. In today’s economy, it is extremely important to not waste anything. A frugal cook will do their best to make every dollar spent count. For example, there is only myself and my husband to cook for. So, when I make soup, I dish out the remaining amount into containers that can be frozen. That will keep it fresh for us to have at a later date.

A Country Cook is a planner

Just about every cook knows to make a list before you go grocery shopping. If you don’t, you run the risk of forgetting something. But to be perfectly honest, before you make a list, take a few minutes to plan out what you want to make for dinner! There are any number of types of software that you can use to do this with. A fair number of them will even create your shopping list for you.

A Country Cook is organized

While you are going over that shopping list, you need to know what is still in your pantry. The only way to know that is to look! If your pantry has some degree of organization, it will make it easier to check it against your shopping list. Whatever you do, don’t rely on your memory. I can’t tell you how many times I swore I already had an ingredient only to find out when I got back home that I was wrong. Taking those few extra steps before you go shopping will save you money in the long run.