My mother was really young when she had me, so she was a horrible cook, but we lived with my grandmother, who was fantastic. We eventually got our own place, and my mother started learning to cook. But it was also the '70s, so she was very experimental, and, well - thank God we had a dog.

In this quote, Debi Mazar humorously reflects on her childhood experience with food and cooking. She begins by acknowledging that her mother was quite young when she had her, which meant that she wasn't very skilled in the kitchen at first. However, they were fortunate enough to live with Mazar's grandmother, who was an excellent cook, ensuring that the family still had access to delicious meals despite her mother's initial lack of culinary expertise.

As time passed and they moved into their own place, Mazar's mother began to learn how to cook, signaling a shift in her skills. The mention of the '70s is significant because it contextualizes the era in which her mother began experimenting with food. The 1970s were known for embracing new trends, including experimental cooking and the exploration of different cuisines and flavors, which led to some unconventional meals in Mazar's household. Her mother’s approach to cooking was a reflection of the era's food experimentation.

Mazar’s humorous tone in mentioning, "thank God we had a dog," adds a light-hearted touch, implying that some of the meals her mother created may not have turned out as expected or might not have been very appetizing. The dog, in this case, becomes the comedic relief—a companion who likely benefited from the cooking experiments, offering a playful twist on the idea of family meals.

Ultimately, the quote captures the growth of Mazar’s mother as a cook, from having limited skills to becoming more adventurous in the kitchen, while also acknowledging the imperfect but endearing process of learning. It’s a funny and relatable reflection on how families adapt and grow together, especially in the face of new experiences and challenges like learning to cook.