So, you think you can't cook? I say you can!

The thought process of someone who wants to cook.
Break the cycle, and learn to cook.
(Drawing by The Endangered Sartorialist)

Some people don't like to cook. To some, cooking can be a daunting task or maybe some just don't want to cook. I would like to help change that through my blog. To me, cooking is an essential part of living. Not because we need to eat, but because creating food offers so much to the people you are cooking for, and it offers something to the person that is preparing the meal as well.  

Preparing a meal is fulfilling in many ways. Cooking is creative, it can be relaxing, it is comforting, and it is rewarding. It can also be hard work, but I truly think that the results are worth it. When my family and friends compliment me on a meal I have made it is a wonderful feeling of accomplishment.  Cooking is a learned skill that takes practice, and whether your meal is a success or a failure, it is still a learning experience.

When telling my daughter about this post she shared her thoughts about the way a person cooks can reflect who they are.  "If you are a person who likes to play it safe you might follow the recipe exactly the way it was written", she said. "If you are more of a free spirit you may not stick to the recipe and you may make changes to it."   Some people cook to explore their heritage or culture, or to learn about a new one.  Some people are busy and want to make a meal in 30 minutes or less. Others, may be more experienced at cooking and want to challenge themselves.  What ever your style is, or motivation, there are recipes out there waiting for you to try.

I think everyone should know a few simple recipes. For instance, it is good to know a couple of each; appetizer, main course, and dessert. For breakfast, learn how to make really good scrambled eggs (see my post, "Eggsellent"), waffles and pancakes (see my post, "Puffy Pancake"). Once you have mastered cooking a few dishes you are ready to move on and learn others.

Some recipes, if you are searching on line, will tell you what the cooking level is.  There are some great search engines out there. My favorite is Epicurious.com. I have been using this site for many years. Good old fashioned cookbooks are always a great resource as well. I love to collect cookbooks, but if you don't want to invest in them you can go to your local library and find what ever your heart, or stomach I should say, may desire. Going to the library on a cookbook search is one of my favorite things to do. Try it. You will find a lot of inspiration there.

There is a relatively new show on the Food Network called, "Worst Cooks in America". I admit I have never seen the show, but I have seen commercials for it and I don't understand how these people can't cook. If you can read, you can cook. If you can drive, you can cook. If you can use a computer, you can cook. Cooking is actually a very easy task, but if you are feeling apprehensive about it, you may not want to even try. I can understand that. I think some people may feel like they have to cook like a gourmet chef to be a good cook.  I say cook like yourself. Don't worry about being top chef.  Find some recipes and get cooking. You will feel fullness in your mind and in your stomach. For recipe searches go to:

http://www.epicurious.com/

http://www.epicurious.com/tools/fooddictionary

Photgraph by Elliot Doolittle