--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can do basics, but I'm not a proper…" description: "\"I can do basics, but I'm not a proper cook. I can do a roast. I can stick a chicken in the oven with vegetables.\" — Lesley Nicol" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cac/lesley-nicol-12825_basics_i-can-do-basics-but-i-m-not-a-proper-coo_2061161.png" --- # I can do basics, but I'm not a proper cook. I can do a… ![“I can do basics, but I'm not a proper cook. I can do a roast. I can stick a chicken in the oven with vegetables.” quote by Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cac/lesley-nicol-12825_basics_i-can-do-basics-but-i-m-not-a-proper-coo_2061161.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cac/lesley-nicol-12825_basics_i-can-do-basics-but-i-m-not-a-proper-coo_2061161.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cac/lesley-nicol-12825_basics_i-can-do-basics-but-i-m-not-a-proper-coo_2061161.png) > “I can do basics, but I'm not a proper cook. I can do a roast. I can stick a chicken in the oven with vegetables.” [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker can handle simple cooking tasks like roasting but lacks broader culinary skills. **In simple terms:** Can cook basics, not advanced dishes. Key Takeaway Practice and expand cooking repertoire. Themes cooking skill development confidence Mood encouraging practical Type instructional personal When to use this quote - home meals - family gatherings - skill workshops Key Concepts basic techniques recipe learning Questions to Reflect On - Which new dish will you try next? - How can you build culinary confidence? A Different Perspective Limited confidence may hinder trying new recipes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basics/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) ## Related quotes > [You might heckle me now - but when I get home, I've got a chicken in the oven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-hill/you-might-heckle-me-now-but-when-i-get-home-i-ve-got-a-chicken-in-the/) [Harry Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-hill/) > [Classic Recipe for Roast Beef: 1 large Roast of beef 1 small Roast of beef Take the two roasts and put them in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracie-allen/classic-recipe-for-roast-beef-1-large-roast-of-beef-1-small-roast-of/) [Gracie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracie-allen/) > [I'm not mean. I can't do a roast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-byer/i-m-not-mean-i-can-t-do-a-roast/) [Nicole Byer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-byer/) > [Roast something for the children that they might eat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashanti/roast-something-for-the-children-that-they-might-eat/) [Ashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashanti/) > [George W. Bush was a silver spoon dolt with no record to speak of other than bankruptcy and selling tropical plants, and we let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/george-w-bush-was-a-silver-spoon-dolt-with-no-record-to-speak-of/) [Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/) > [“I kept telling myself: Cold roast beef. Cold roast beef. Cold roast beef.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-kept-telling-myself-cold-roast-beef-cold-roast-beef-cold-roast-beef/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [In America, even your menus have the gift of language… The Chef's own Vienna Roast. A hearty, rich meat loaf, gently seasoned to perfection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-lee/in-america-even-your-menus-have-the-gift-of-language-the-chef-s-own/) [Laurie Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-lee/) > [When you roast yourself, it makes everybody else comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle/when-you-roast-yourself-it-makes-everybody-else-comfortable/) [Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle/) > [You don't want roast beef and Yorkshire every night and twice on Sunday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-clough/you-don-t-want-roast-beef-and-yorkshire-every-night-and-twice-on/) [Brian Clough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-clough/) > [“Imagine… There’s a roast goose in Hong Kong—Mongkok, near the outskirts of the city, the place looks like any other. But you sink your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/imagine-there-s-a-roast-goose-in-hong-kong-mongkok-near-the-outskirts/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [“Will Peter be joining us for tea, do you think?' 'I doubt it. Peter rarely returns home before late in the evening.' 'Oh.' Quill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eloisa-james/will-peter-be-joining-us-for-tea-do-you-think-i-doubt-it-peter-rarely/) [Eloisa James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eloisa-james/) > [I make a good roast chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-winkleman/i-make-a-good-roast-chicken/) [Claudia Winkleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-winkleman/) > [Let's be honest, we all love a roast, but Sunday lunch could be a huge plate of salade nicoise; it could be eggs benedict;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-torode/let-s-be-honest-we-all-love-a-roast-but-sunday-lunch-could-be-a-huge/) [John Torode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-torode/) > [The chickens have come home to roast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-ace/the-chickens-have-come-home-to-roast/) [Jane Ace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-ace/) > [I'm a fan of a big roast or a bolognese, but I also love baking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisy-lowe/i-m-a-fan-of-a-big-roast-or-a-bolognese-but-i-also-love-baking/) [Daisy Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisy-lowe/) ## More by Lesley Nicol > [At the drop of a hat, people will say there are no roles for women after 40. It's there with a bunch of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/at-the-drop-of-a-hat-people-will-say-there-are-no-roles-for-women/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [I sometimes wonder what it would have been like if I'd got 'Downton Abbey' when I was 22.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/i-sometimes-wonder-what-it-would-have-been-like-if-i-d-got-downton/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [I have been invited to do something called 'Celebrity MasterChef' in England, which, of course, I can't do. It's complete nonsense. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/i-have-been-invited-to-do-something-called-celebrity-masterchef-in/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [My poor cooking is legendary among my friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/my-poor-cooking-is-legendary-among-my-friends/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [I inherited my weight problem from my mum. She was always on diets. If there was a box of chocolates in the house, she'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/i-inherited-my-weight-problem-from-my-mum-she-was-always-on-diets-if/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [Coming eyeball to eyeball with a hummingbird on my terrace is as exciting to me as any celebrity I've met as a result of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/coming-eyeball-to-eyeball-with-a-hummingbird-on-my-terrace-is-as/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [I think I should be a nightclub singer. I love to sing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/i-think-i-should-be-a-nightclub-singer-i-love-to-sing/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [I want to have a scene with Maggie Smith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/i-want-to-have-a-scene-with-maggie-smith/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [I go dog-walking a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/i-go-dog-walking-a-lot/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [I always admire people who have passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/i-always-admire-people-who-have-passion/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [As an actor, you never know where the work's going to come, so you have to be flexible about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/as-an-actor-you-never-know-where-the-work-s-going-to-come-so-you-have/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [I've not cooked Christmas dinner since 1982.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/i-ve-not-cooked-christmas-dinner-since-1982/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [I quite like L.A.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/i-quite-like-l-a/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [I don't do freeways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/i-don-t-do-freeways/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [Ive not cooked Christmas dinner since 1982.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/ive-not-cooked-christmas-dinner-since-1982/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) [Explore all 53 Lesley Nicol quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) ## More Basics quotes > [Play small ball. Get back to basics. I would say that you need to be a conservative, but you need to maintain your independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/play-small-ball-get-back-to-basics-i-would-say-that-you-need-to-be-a/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [I learned tabla for three years when in school, then started picking up the basics of the acoustic guitar when in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupam-roy/i-learned-tabla-for-three-years-when-in-school-then-started-picking/) [Anupam Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupam-roy/) > [The only way you can stay on top is to remember to touch bottom and get back to basics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-black/the-only-way-you-can-stay-on-top-is-to-remember-to-touch-bottom-and/) [Shane Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-black/) > [To succeed, you will soon learn, as I did, the importance of a solid foundation in the basics of education - literacy, both verbal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/to-succeed-you-will-soon-learn-as-i-did-the-importance-of-a-solid/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [I see film as a real opportunity to examine the human condition. No matter where the technology goes in the future, the basics don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-schultz/i-see-film-as-a-real-opportunity-to-examine-the-human-condition-no/) [Michael Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-schultz/) > [Sometimes we think that the more expensive brands will be more effective. Sometimes if you stick to the basics, that's what really matters. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pia-wurtzbach/sometimes-we-think-that-the-more-expensive-brands-will-be-more/) [Pia Wurtzbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pia-wurtzbach/) > [As hundreds of millions of Chinese have improved their standard of living, this has put enormous pressure on natural resources, raw materials, and food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lubetzky/as-hundreds-of-millions-of-chinese-have-improved-their-standard-of/) [Daniel Lubetzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lubetzky/) > [Move quickly. Sound, calm mind. Be light in body. Have a clever mind. Master the basics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gogen-yamaguchi/move-quickly-sound-calm-mind-be-light-in-body-have-a-clever-mind/) Gogen Yamaguchi > [After almost exactly three hours, we rolled into a small hole of a town that had one traffic light and a resturant simply marked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/after-almost-exactly-three-hours-we-rolled-into-a-small-hole-of-a/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [When you're a dancer, you start with the basics. You don't all of a sudden do a grand jete and pirouette. You start with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/when-you-re-a-dancer-you-start-with-the-basics-you-don-t-all-of-a/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [There are huge misconceptions about people on benefits. They are labelled scroungers or cheats. The reality is that many who need that level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/there-are-huge-misconceptions-about-people-on-benefits-they-are/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) > [It's just lovely to be involved in a movie that does go back to the basics - characters and great writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/it-s-just-lovely-to-be-involved-in-a-movie-that-does-go-back-to-the/) [Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/) > [“When life gets confusing, go back to the basics. The rest is noise!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-shelasky/when-life-gets-confusing-go-back-to-the-basics-the-rest-is-noise/) [Alyssa Shelasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-shelasky/) > [We have to stick to basics. Sometimes, you expect that miracles will happen, but it does not work out that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahid-afridi/we-have-to-stick-to-basics-sometimes-you-expect-that-miracles-will/) [Shahid Afridi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahid-afridi/) > [I don't think that you can write music if you don't know how to play an instrument. You have to know the basics, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alber-elbaz/i-don-t-think-that-you-can-write-music-if-you-don-t-know-how-to-play/) [Alber Elbaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alber-elbaz/) [Browse all 345 Basics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can do basics, but I'm not a proper cook. I can do a roast. 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