Cooking — Where Do I Start
Cooking — Where Do I Start? Everyone that calls themselves a cook, had to start somewhere. Some started young as a child learning from a loving, willing teacher, others took cooking classes in school. There are some who waited to learn to cook until they had a kitchen of their own in which to learn.
This blog is not so much about the art of cooking as it is about the thought processes that prepare you for the art of cooking.
A meal is made up of a combination of foods served together. All families have favorite meals. It is very interesting to be invited to different homes to enjoy a home- cooked meal with their family. Some cooks like to make simple meals while others like to fill the table with a variety of dishes. At our house a meal had to have a main dish, (the protein), a complex carbohydrate, (the starch), a bread with butter, vegetables and fruit, dessert was optional. Now that I have my own house I can vary the menu. Sometimes we have dinner consisting of soup and a sandwich. Sometimes we have Mexican food, or Chinese food.
One thing for sure, if any cooking is going to take place, you must first decide what you want to cook, then you have to purchase all the ingredients. I try to make a weekly meal plan, (that is always subject to change), at least the grocery shopping is done and there is food available to cook. That is a great start. If you find that you skip cooking and get take-out or go out 2 or 3 nights out of 7 you will learn to store only 3 or 4 days of food and plan to shop twice a week, if needed.
I find the hardest part of preparing a good meal is deciding what to make. I prefer to cook in my own kitchen because I have it well stocked and I know where everything is kept. I also know if the oven heat is accurate or if it cooks faster or slower than the reciepe calls for.
As a beginning cook, take it easy on yourself. Just learn to cook one new thing at a time. Ask your favorite cook among your family and friends for some good receipes. Get a good cookbook. Enjoy your time in the kitchen.
Start with simple step by step recipes of the easier variety. For beginners working with a recipe that’s simple is a good start and as a beginner, you will want to make sure you are following the directions precisely: this isn’t the time to experiment or improvise. You will have plenty of chances to be creative as you become more familiarized with cooking.
Two of the easiest recipes is boxed macaroni and cheese; a simple measuring and boiling process for starters. Making ‘rice crispy’ treats, (squares), is also an easy 5 step process.
As you become more comfortable with these simple cooking methods, you will be able to branch out and eventually discover the cook within.
Cooking isn’t “for” everyone, however, it is good for everyone to know the basics. With persistence and patience you too can learn to cook.
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