What advice would you offer someone who wants to learn how to cook though can barely boil an egg?
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Buy them a betterhomes and gardens cookbook. My daughter has learned alot from it. She even has one of the ones for youth. She is getting good cooking now -
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@amy, betterhomes annd gardens cookbooks are fairly easy? -
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I agree..Better Homes and Gardens is a good, basic cookbook. Whatever you get, you should look for something that uses everyday ingredients (less intimidating), and it should explain techniques and include a glossary of cooking terms. It's no good giving someone a recipe that tells them to sautee if they have no idea what that means! My old blog from this site will be back up in the next day or so and there was an article that included a glossary of common cooking terms. Also had a step-by-step for boiling an egg (with photos). -
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Wow, so Better Homes and Gardens huh? I never would have guessed. Thanks for the tip!-
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I wouldn't have either.
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My mom and brother are bother superb cooks and I credit them with my ability to appreciate quality food though I also credit them with giving me no real reason to learn to cook as they are always serving up incredible meals. -
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My advice is asking one simple question: DO YOU LIKE TO EAT?
If no is the answer, learning to cook will be impossible. If the wannabe chef has a passion for food, equip him/her with a few key utensils, a good kitchen knife and top-quality fresh ingredients. Unpretentious recipe books, patient grandmothers or cooking shows complete the picture. Practice, tenacity and passion is what you need in the kitchen. The rest is chemistry. And luck. -
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It seems like decades ago when I was in a bookstore searching for a cookbook, so I could learn how to cook. A kind woman offered me the advice that if I purchased one of two cookbooks and followed the directions I would learn how to cook. Just follow the directions - she said. My Betty Crocker's and Better Homes & Gardens Cookbooks now have yellow pages and scribbled notes.
Simple recipes are great! Now, nutritious, easy and delicious recipes can be found on-line, like on this site. Just follow the directions! -
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I would first teach them safety in the kitchen. This includes washing dishes, scrubbing pots & pans and a very important subject, personal hand washing; how to wash ones hand properly and throughly. The value of food safety and to use their nose to smell ingredients before using them, to insure freshness. The ability to smelling fresh or spoiled food is a cook's first line of defense and their greatest asset.
During a trip to the grocery market I would teach them the basics of shopping for quality ingredients. Once home, I would show them where to store the food.
I am in agreement with the easier cookbook and I would recommend The Pillsbury Cookbook, for its easy to follow directions, photographs and time-tested recipes. I would assist the new cook in choosing a few recipes to try, familiarize them with cooking tools and their proper use and have them study their choices.
A well prepared student in the kitchen will feel more at ease and be glad of guidance. -
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I'm with Amy - when I was teaching others to cook, the book I offered with the course was BH&G. There are many more basic books out there, but I think they cover the necessaries very well - and with photos!
If you can take a course at a local college, so much the better. One of the best ways, though - is to watch others cook. Sit down and really pay attention to shows on the Food Network or local PBS. I learned so many things before culinary school from watching those great old shows.
Start small and move ahead little bits at a time. Learn to make pudding from a box and then move on to homemade and eventually to chocolate mousse. Progression works! -
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What Anniepooh said. I know here is Las Vegas you can take some killer cooking classes at the community college. A lot of the students go on to UNLV and become chefs. Other students go straight into the casinos and work in the resturants.-
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There are so may places for savory and pastry chefs to work in Las Vegas. Having never visited this city I think it could be a great place for the professional cook. It gets pretty hot in the dessert.
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It's a lot easier these days than it was when I was younger. I was lucky to have a great cook for a mother, but I didn't always pay attention! (Cooking was soooo lame!)
Later on, I had to teach myself through trial and error (a LOT of error) but also by asking for help from better cooks. People that you know who are excellent cooks are always pleased to help you out! Just look at the replies here!
Today, though the Internet is a great resource. There are recipes and techniques for world food that I come across as a traditional cook that befuddle me. Turning to the Internet I can usually find great videos and explanations to show me just what I need to know.-
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So well put.
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have fun and there my be failures along the way, but never give up. Watch and learn when friends and family cook
Rebecca-
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That's the ticket. How is your weekend going? Any party or get together in the works?
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I'd suggest starting with simple recipes with just a few ingredients, no more than 8, (less intimidating when starting out). Don't start with recipes that want you to use a specialized process or expensive equipment. They aren't needed at your stage and won't encourage you to keep learning just because it's easy and your having fun.
Start out with basic pancakes for an example. They ask for few ingredients and can be made in your skillet and have a quality just as good as as on a griddle.