My wife DID burn water once. Left the pot on boil, forgot about it, and came back to smoke in the kitchen. I still bring that up often, because it's hilarious and I'm kind of an ass. But that incident aside, my wife can cook MEAN Cuban food. However. Ever since becoming a vegetarian, she doesn't anymore. Except for rice and beans (where she soaks the beans overnight, seasons everything nice, blah blah blah), but it's not the same as Ropa Vieja, Picadillo, Arroz con Pollo, etc.
So, we eat healthier now, and I don't get the good Cuban food. It's a sacrifice, but I do it because I love her and want to make her happy. That said, when I'm out at work, and with the boys, I eat REALLY bad (by her standards). Steak, BBQ, gourmet burgers & stuff. She knows, doesn't really approve, but understands that I didn't sign up to be a vegetarian simply because she had a crisis of conscience. And in exchange, I make her panko-breaded eggplant & homemade all-day sauce (gravy), and other good (meatless) Italian dishes.
So, short answer - yes. She can cook.
She just doesn't make anything I like anymore. lol.