[peppy]

I'm a third generation restaurant owner so cooking is my livelihood, but also something I do to relax.
I too miss the foods from my grandmother and mother and I always thought they were great cooks (I wish I had paid more attention to their ad-libbing of the recipes).
I think a "good" cook only needs to have a grasp of a few things:
1. salt & pepper
2. heat (don't under cook or over cook)
3. control the acid/bitterness of what you are making (ingredients matter)
4. textures gets a bit more, but is still important
If you have a grasp of those you can be a very good cook
I like to think I'm always learning and playing in my kitchen...

As for baking that is chemistry as has been said and not in my realm.