I recieved an interesting email yesterday that got me to thinking a bit about how anyone learns anything. He ( it was a he) asked me how to learn to cook and I realized that this was not too different than asking someone how to begin learning to do anything. I began to think about the things I have taught; weight training, coaching, accounting, business, marketing and such. So, here are a few beginning steps in the process:
1) Build yourself a cookbook library of books that interest you. If cookies are your thing, that could be a good place to start. Most children get very excited about cooking when it involves cookies or desserts. There is nothing more enjoyable than bringing a smile on a young child’s face… which was why Halloween was really invented… for big kids like me!
2) Find a few recipes that you wish to try and don’t fret if the first things you bake are less than perfect. A cake that falls can happen to anyone. All recipes are not equal, some have more ingredients, more expensive ingredients and greater time in baking and preparation. A rule of thumb is to stay with the more expensive recipes ( requiring butter for example) because even if the recipe isn’t perfect… it should still be very nice.
Most recipes are designed around price ceilings or time constraints… if you pay less attention to these two factors, then you and those you cook for will be much happier. “30 meals in 30 minutes” tastes like no one cares.
3) Try some of the established recipes and as they say,” it is your job to follow the recipe, it is the chef’s job to be creative!” Once you have an idea of what you like… then tweaking it to your particular taste is a given!
4) Put together some logical established recipes or those you have adapted. Soon you will have a signature dish that friends will enjoy and think of you… sometimes this is all the immortality we ever have. I remember fondly some of my Grandmother’s wonderful recipes.
5) Finally, after you have studied the various recipes, tried out a few… it may be fun to create on your own. The key is not to let failures get you down… some times there is no way to improve chipped beef. That’s life… move on to what you enjoy.
Have fun!
Roger