It's that easy! All it takes is patience, familiarity with a
few basic terms and tools
and a little time to
throw together the ingredients to make whatever
tasty dish you wish to serve up. From simple
appetizers to fancy
desserts, you can whip up a finished product that will be
picture-perfect
and sure to impress.
|
| Grilled Lamb and Roasted Vegetables |
| Photo by JoAnne Allen |
First, find recipes for a dish you'd like to prepare. Beginners should select the recipe with the fewest ingredients and fewest steps from start to finish. Follow the directions carefully and your dish will turn out just right. Don't improvise. Leave that to the pros or, at least, hold off on being creative until you get comfortable with the fundamentals and gain a little confidence.
Avoid frustration. Start with something easy and work your way up to the tough stuff. Think of cooking as a hobby, not work, and you'll enjoy it more. Think of cooking as creating art. Once you get the hang of it, you'll find joy in experimenting with fresh herbs, aromatic spices and exotic produce. Okay, let's cook. Try some of the recipes on this page.
Tip: Line up everything you will need on the countertop before starting. Clean as you go so you're not overwhelmed or discouraged by a big mess when you're finished. Invest in a good cookbook and a subscription to Cook's Illustrated, a magazine filled with basic cooking tips, helpful hints and no ads.