by Heidi Peaster

Created on: March 15, 2010

My father was a pretty good cook.  He was the primary cook in our family, since Mama worked and Papa was Mr. Mom in days when there was no such thing.  He told me two things about cooking that I have always remembered.

1.  If you can read, you can cook.  And:

2.  Don't be too damn careful.

The best way to learn to cook is three-fold.

* Get a good, uncomplicated cook book.  The old stand-by, "Joy of Cooking" has everything from recipes for every occasion, to calorie content, to measurements.  It goes into canning, and baking from scratch, and cooking egg-nog in quantity. 

For beginners, to have a vast range of questions answered in a cook book is vital.  When we are learning, we don't know much, and we need to find answers to basic questions all in one place.  Get a cook book with a glossary of definitions to words like "blanching" and "double-boiler".

Church cook books are great, because they are tried and true recipes from cooks who have put in all the short cuts and best seasonings.  They are culled down, simple, and regular folks think the results taste great.

When you first begin cooking, be sure to cook a lot of different ways:  baking, stir-fry, soups and stews, meats, vegetable combinations.  You will find what you like to do best and for what you have a flair.  Then comes the fun of browsing the cook book section of the bookstore.  You will be drawn to the books featuring what you have discovered you like to do best.

* Cook with other people.  If you can do it the old-fashioned way with your mom or grandma, that's the best.  They will show you all the family tricks of the trade, answer all your dumbest questions lovingly, and tell you it will turn out better next time.

To get more finesse, and when you have a few cooking miles under your belt, classes are helpful and fun.  Everybody is there for the same reason, you can get involved with some more exotic recipes and get some expert tips with hands-on experience.

* Just do it.  There is no substitute for experience.  Just get in there with your recipe, your acquired knowledge and cook.  It will seem long, involved, and not as fun as you thought it was going to be, but don't worry.  It will get easier, you will get better as you go along, and the kitchen messes will not be as great as you refine you skill.

Remember, everybody had to learn sometime.  And don't be too damn careful.

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