Becoming a Better Cook: Fake it 'Til You Make It

I'm a terrible cook. But if you ask my husband, he'll tell you I'm a fantastic cook, and not just because I'll yell at him if he insults my cooking. He genuinely enjoys my cooking. I didn't get much experience cooking growing up, and I still couldn't tell you the difference between sauteeing and frying. But I've learned a few simple tricks to help me fake my way to good homecooked meals.

Get a good cookbook

A key ingredient to becoming a better cook is finding a good cookbook that suits your style. Mine is a Better Homes and Gardens cookbook, but there are plenty of options out there. Make sure that there are a good number of recipes in the cookbook that suit your family's tastes, and which use ingredients that are familiar to you. Don't go for a gourmet cookbook with all kinds of intricate meals. If you have never eaten a lamb shank, you're going to have a hard time knowing when you've prepared it properly. You can also find great recipes online. I have linked a few websites at the end of this article to get you started on your way. Whatever recipes you choose, be sure to follow them to the letter until you have some experience under your belt. Don't change amounts or cooking times, or else your cooking adventure could end up in disaster.

Buy a crock pot

Crock pot meals are the easiest kind of meals. They take little preparation, and next to no maintenance. As long as you have a timer (or if you can read a clock), you can make a fantastic crock pot meal with little effort. There are even some cookbooks out there filled with only crock pot recipes. Everything from soups and roasts to pasta and desserts can be made in a crock pot, with the right recipe and a little bit of planning. Best of all, if your crock pot is large enough, you can make enough for two meals, saving you the trouble of making lunch or dinner the next day. Simply reheat and eat! Although I don't recommend reheating anything in the crock pot, unless you intend for it to cook all day -- crock pots are notoriously slow (that is the point of them, after all), so it's best to reheat in the oven or on the stove.

Keep it simple

Most of the meals I prepare have very few ingredients and take little effort. If I have to stand at the stove constantly stirring a pot, or if I have to measure 20 different ingredients, I'm likely to mess it up. Badly. I have a young child, I don't have that kind of focus. If a recipe seems complicated, it probably is, and will be best left to the masters. Simple dishes done well are a great way to become a good cook without having to put yourself through chef's school.

Skip the microwave

When we use the microwave, we have a tendency to buy a lot of frozen, pre-packaged foods that are lacking in both nutrition and taste. The microwave is an invitation to laziness, and laziness will sabotage your efforts at becoming a better cook. Relegate your microwave to popcorn and defrosting duty only -- or better yet, get rid of it altogether. It may be best to completely remove the temptation. Ever since my microwave blew up, I've become a much better cook.

Experiment

I know I said earlier that recipes should be followed to the letter, and that's true, at first. But once you've become familiar with a recipe, you can feel free to change it up a bit. Add different spices, or change the preparation a little to make it your own. I have a recipe for easy oven-fried pork chops that has become a recipe for chicken parmesan -- I simply used the methods for cooking the pork chops and applied them to chicken, melted some mozzarella on top, placed the whole thing atop a plate of spaghetti, and voila! A fantastic new meal that was completely my own invention. Be careful, though -- experimentation should come with a little experience. If you've never tried a particular recipe, it may not be a good idea to change things up. Get used to the recipe before you add your own flair.

Now, I'm not promising that you'll become a world-class chef by following these tips. But I can promise you that your family will be well-pleased with your efforts, and you will feel much better about your skills in the kitchen. Happy cooking!

FREE RECIPE WEBSITES:
http://allrecipes.com/
http://www.cooksrecipes.com/
http://www.kissrecipes.com/