Due to my incredible lack of cooking knowledge and my recent love for experimenting in the kitchen, I have decided I am going to teach myself how to cook! OK, I know that I cook on the blog fairly often, and I really can say that over the last few months I’ve learned some great things while trying to maintain this healthy lifestyle. But I want to know EVERYTHING!
I find myself at a constant loss lately in trying to come up with creative and nutritious things to make, and I can’t help but wish my mom were still around to show me a thing or two—I mean I’m actually starting to worry about when I have a family, WHAT I’m going to cook?!?! At times I feel like there is this pseudo secret book full of recipes to get you through life; one that every mom passes down to their daughters, I just happened to miss out on mine…
I’ve never been great in the kitchen—somehow everything I try to make turns out to either be missing a key ingredient, overcooked, undercooked or some other weird happening…I really am CLUELESS when it comes down to it. I’ve always been so intrigued by chefs and their art—I imagine how wonderful it would be if eventually I could create some of my own healthy recipes to share! Unfortunately at this time in my life I am not able to fully commit to culinary school, what I’m sure would be an amazing experience.
So in my spare time, which is few and far between, I will be doing A LOT of research on cooking basics—terminology, techniques, extensive Food Network watching 
etc., and create my own little school taught by mauh! I’m not sure how this is going to go but I’m really excited to give it a try—hopefully I’ll get some yummy new healthy dishes out of it!
To start out with, I have my handy dandy Rachael Ray knife
Probably one of my most favorite things EVER!
Aaaaaand that’s about it! But I DO have a kitchen just waiting to be filled with new discoveries! BTW I have am insanely obsessed with Rachael Ray—I’m completely inspired by how far she’s come and she didn’t even need to attend culinary school to do it. It gives me hope that I can somehow learn my way too, so that I can create my own healthy meals to share with everyone and maybe have my own little book of secrets to pass on to my kids someday!
I’ll be posting all of my experiences, so if anyone has any advice—any basic must-know kitchen knowledge, I’d love your HELP!
I’ll leave you with what is HOPEFULLY my last boring plate of veggies, for lack of a better idea…
I’m excited to learn a few things. I am such a random “chef”. I through things together all the time, and create new crazy recipes like it’s my job. I really can’t stand Rachel Ray, but I do like her recipes. Does that make sense? I can’t watch her show, she annoys me, but I really enjoy her magazine because I always find great recipe! Good luck on your new hobby, keep us updated with some cooking secrets!
I love to cook! I have to say I don’t follow recipes a lot, I like to do trial and error in the kitchen. Unless I am baking…then I follow the recipe because it is an exact science. I learned the basics of cooking from my mom, but definetely developed my own thing over time. My mom never used garlic or made anything spicy. Now I start every recipe with garlic and adore adding crushed red pepper to just about anything. What I usually do is get an idea of what I want to cook and then research recipes online or in my cookbooks. I take a bit of this and a bit of that from every recipe and make it my own.
I recommend a good, basic cookbook such as the Betty Crocker Cookbook. There is sooo much info in there about how, when, why, what. I reference it often. It is an investment that any kitchen should make!
Good luck, can’t wait to see your adventures! Sorry for the super long comment!!!
Courtney
Adventures in Tri-ing
I love to cook! Like Courtney said get a good basic cookbook and just start experimenting, watch some Food shows and google knife skills and watch some You Tube Videos. Learning how to chop correctly will save you so much time!
I have that knife too
That meal looks great! Just keep trying, you’ll get the hang of it! And if not, marry a chef! haha just kidding.But not every woman has to like cooking
what do you love to eat? (pasta, baked things, whatevs) pick something you love to eat, but don’t know how to make to start with…
although if it uses yeast, read up on it a lot first!
but cooking is the most fun when you realize that you can have something you love all the time because you can make it (i love making soup, because i love soup. and all sorts of bread)
I can’t wait to see hwat you come up with! How exciting for you!
I used to be a lot more worried about “doing things right” when cooking. But at one point I realized that I am just not meant to follow recipes and have been doing my own thing pretty much ever since. Do all meals turn out great? No. Do I mess up a lot? Yes. But it’s fun, and I enjoy being in the kitchen…
I look forward to seeing all your creations!
Oh I can’t wait to see what dishes you are going to cook! and girly a plate of veggies is never boring lol…okay maybe once in a while ha
I definitely taught myself to cook just using recipes and watching LOTS of Food Network. You’ll get it
Whoa – just back away slowly, no need to get angry . . . that knife is HUGE!
Those veggies are boring.. looks yum, actually!! I have been getting some great ideas from blogs lately on what to cook… listen to what your bod is craving then seek out recipes. I like to check out a ton of cookbooks from the library (even if they are not vegan, I can tweek them!)
Ooo I read “Kitchen Adventure” and I knew this was right up my alley! I’m not an expert but I do have a few tips and tricks up my sleeve. I too would love to go to culinary school. Anyhow, for example, when cooking (stir-fries for example), you probably already know this, but different vegetables have different cooking times i.e. this is why onions and garlic are usually cooked first. There are so many wonderful resources out on the web for easy and creative recipes. Once you get the hang of it and really learn your flavors, textures, and what things you really like, you’ll be making your own wonderful recipes in no time. Don’t be hard on yourself and just remember to keep an open-mind and let curiosity get the best of you
When I was young going out to eat was a once a year luxury – its so funny how times have changed! We go out to eat with our kids at least once a week at a minimum!
That being said, my mom cooked every meal and I had comfort in the kitchen from a young age. Although, I do remember my mom making bacon and mozzarella sandwiches for dinner – just white bread, bacon and mozzarella on top under the broiler til the cheese was all melty. I don’t remember there being a salad or vegetable or fruit served with it, but it was delicious!
YouTube is also another go to – I am much better “seeing” someone make something and then recreating it, rather than reading a cookbook. That’s where I saw an Italian grandma make gnocci and I followed her example and they came out delicious!
Happy Friday!
p.s. I use to be the kind of girl that had trouble with preparing Easy Mac, but I think that was mainly my mind over-complicating things. I didn’t think something could really be THAT easy.
I have the same problem when cooking. It is all practice. The more your try certain dishes the easier it gets. Squash is so easy to make..I love it!
Oh my gosh, I have been thinking the same thing! I started researching culinary school and then I was like, nah, I’ll do it myself
I’m going to start investing in some nicer tools and do lots of experimenting. Good luck to you!
I used to think the same thing about cooking…like I missed out on “the secret.” Then I remember my grandma (with her cute southern accent) saying to me: “Cookin’ is real easy, honey, all ya gotta be able to do is follow directions!”
Ha – she’s right! I’ve learned a lot by watching the Food Network, which I’m obsessed with. I’m no super cook, by any means, but it’s so fun to learn more!
I’m the same way (I would have LOVED to go to culinary school!)…I had to teach myself how to cook (I did have a little help from my mother-in-law though). It’s such a fun process, I just have to remind myself that not every dish will be perfect…many nights hubby and I suffer through a meal gone wrong, but then there are incredibly delicious meals that balance it out…the great thing is, I learn something new from every recipe I try.
i get really excited about things like knives
all kitchen gadgets really! i love rachael too.
I feel like I need some legit cooking lessons too!! My cooking is just whatever I decide to throw in the pan/pot. I never really think ‘outside the pan’ with spices and other add-ins. Love the knife!!!! So jealous. I need to get a cool knife that I can call my own!
I love Rachael Ray too! I DVR every episode! My granny made maybe 10 dishes, my mom, 20 or 30, everything else I have taught myself. from reading others blogs, sharing recipes with friends and neighbors, and watching food network. When I was young I watched the cajun guy in the red overalls on pbs, and the british guy on cbs, in the 80’s. I always wanted to try their recipes, but my mom wouldn’t let me near the kitchen. My dad let me cook sweets for him during the day when mom was at work, or make breakfasts. Now I guess I am making up for lost time, and spend alot time in the kitchen! My favorite purchase that entirely changed my cooking was purchasing a set of all-clad. I know it sounds crazy, but after you use them you’ll know, that is if you dont have them already.
My mom did cook everyday. However, my sister and I were often shooed from the kitchen. We got in the way. The summer before I went into third grade, I took it upon myself to learn to bake a pie and I have loved to cook and bake since. I got a lot of my knowledge from recipes on sites like http://www.recipezaar.com and watching food network. I also recieved tips from my grandma and other women in the family. Relatives eat it up when you ask them for cooking tips.
I love cooking, it’s pretty easy to experiment once you learn the basics. My mum is a good cook and was always cooking when I was growing up so maybe I learned by osmosis?!
I love to cook but sometimes it is nice to take the night off and make something easy that I have made a million times before. One of my favorite veggie combinations is yellow squash and zucchini, looks great! I think I learned how to cook from watching my dad make dinner every night. I also watch a ton of cooking shows.
Good luck with your cooking journey
I would pass on some wise words but honestly, I’m still learning myself! Nice knife, though! I know that is key to convenient cooking 
Rachel would be proud!
I used to hate cooking and not know how to do it very well myself. It just takes practice. Now, I feel like I can cook/bake anything! I started watching the Foot Network (a lot) and it just progressed from there. I take a lot of cooking classes now which is great. Practice makes perfect! Good luck….if you ever need recipes/help just let me know.
my mom has some rachael ray pans, and they are amazing! good knives are KEY kitchen staples!
I am excited to read about your kitchen adventures. With what you’ve posted so far, I have a feeling you’ll be a pro in no time! Especially with that massive knife, which I’m insanely jealous of!
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Great points…I would note that as someone who really doesn’t write on blogs much (in fact, this may be my first post), I don’t think the term “lurker” is very flattering to a non-posting reader. It’s not your fault in the least , but perhaps the blogosphere could come up with a better, non-creepy name for the 90% of us that enjoy just reading the posts.
yummmy:) thx for ur share i’d love to follow you~~~~~~~~~~~