Learning to Cook!

Has anyone ever gone from not knowing how to cook or not being a great cook to actually being able to hold your own in the kitchen?

I like to bake - I enjoy it and I am pretty good at it. Cooking food is a different story. I am only really comfortable with a few dishes. I think the main problem is that I am vegetarian, DH is a meat eater and the kids are pretty fussy and non adventurous so I am kind of stuck.

I am not someone who is comfortable with adding a little bit of this and a little bit of that so need A-Z directions.

Is there any chef that you follow or any blog that gives simple easy varied recipes that I might get a handle on that would work for everyone?

TIA

Re: Learning to Cook!

following b/c I need this too!! love to bake, hate to cook dinnner. Dh is picky like a child. DS is no better. we eat th same crap all the time and I need to change desperately.

Re: Learning to Cook!

I didn't need help so much in the cooking department, but that's because I did a lot of culinary arts classes in high school (half day program for 2 years) and college (hospitality degree).

That being said these I find are really good for beginners:

Damn Delicious
The Kitchn
Bon Appetit has good recipes, but some things get a bit much (Asian-y things)
Laura in the Kitchen has great YouTube videos on a lot of Italian things and other things as well
Gordon Ramsay's Ultimate Cookery Course is a book and a 20 episode series you can watch on YouTube

When you get better Serious Eats is really good!

Hope that helps!

Re: Learning to Cook!

Although I am pretty decent in the kitchen (I just picked it up and watched TV cooking shows) I just started using Home Chef. There are a bunch of them out there (blue apron etc etc).

I tried a few of them and didn't love them.

I LOVE Home Chef. REALLY easy to use directions. etc etcc.

Re: Learning to Cook!

I go pinterest and find recipes there.
I read it first and if it sounds simple enough I give it a try. I keep the ones that work out well.

I made tyler florence's chicken marsala for christmas and it was a big hit. People actually took leftovers home.

start with picking a simple recipe, follow it exactly, and once you master it, try experimenting by changing up the veggies or spices.

Learning to Cook!

Look into home chef or hello fresh. They give you all of the ingredients and the recipe. The food is so good. Let me know if you're interested and I'll send you a code for $30 off your first box and you can cancel whenever.

Re: Learning to Cook!

Thank you for all these tips - will definitely look into them. I have received coupons in the mail for some other service- I think blue apron? but have never used them.

I think what puts me off the most is that I can never taste anything with meat in it so never know if it tastes good etc...tough being a vegetarian cooking for a meat eating DH.

Learning to Cook!

I am using blue apron right now and I love it. Main thing for me was whenever I wanted to try something new I didn't have all the ingredients at home. They make it super easy

Learning to Cook!

I'm in the same boat!!!!

Re: Learning to Cook!

I had no idea how to cook at all before I got married. I did bake somewhat often and was good at that. However, once I got married, I spent the summer watching food network shows and I taught myself how to cook through the tips and ideas on the shows I watched. I managed to go from almost burning my parents' house down making Elliot's pizza to a pretty amazing cook. It's actually one of my favorite hobbies now. Once I started cooking I became more familiar with ingredients and what ingredients can be interchanged. I've become more comfortable personalizing recipes and tailoring them to my tastes. It can be done. Start out with simpler recipes because it will make you feel more successful and confident. From there you can play around with ingredients.

Learning to Cook!

My goto site is skinnytaste.com She has kid friendly and vegetarian recipes on there. Just read the directions and see if you think you could manage.
Blue Apron is next to foolproof. Everything is measured out, you just need salt, pepper and olive oil. They give you step by step instructions with pictures! I did it for a few weeks but it can be pricey. It was nice to not have to think about what to make or buy and it made me try certain things I would have never thought of.

Re: Learning to Cook!

Message edited 3/1/2016 8:35:53 AM.

Learning to Cook!

When we got married I could barely boil water, DH did all the cooking. After we got married I started to just follow recipes I got from my shower. I also downloaded Spark Healthy Recipes on my phone. I can definitely hold my own in the kitchen and it's a pleasure to cook (when I have the time).