5 Convenient Ways To Learn How To Cook

Ever since I moved to this wonderful country, I have been on my own and learning how to do a lot of new things. I know it may seem weird to you that I have only recently learned how to do my own laundry and decorate my house. The thing that I am really having fun learning how to do is cook.

My mom is a great cook, and she prepared food for our family my entire life. Cooking is her passion, and she has always been praised for her prowess in the kitchen and finding the best ingredient options. She grew up in a family that has handed down recipes for generations. Her parents, my grandfather especially, was a wonderful cook, and they owned a small restaurant when she was growing up. We grew up in a house that always smelled of freshly baked bread, and cakes made on our birthdays. It was always a treat coming home from work and having homemade goodies waiting for us.

She always encouraged us to learn how to cook, and now that she is thousands of miles away, I am learning to cook my own meals. It is great to eat out once in a while with friends, but it is also comforting to be able to eat meals that I have prepared myself. Now I kind of understand why some of the people I know are passionate about cooking. I am surprised that I can cook, and that I am enjoying it a lot. It relaxes me when I am in my kitchen. I never thought that it could be such an adventure. I am not a great cook yet, but I am learning a lot. I was told that if you grew up knowing what good food taste like, there is a good chance that you’ll be able to cook yummy dishes. If you are like me, and you are learning how to cook, here are 5 suggestions to help you conveniently learn how to be good in the kitchen.

1. Watch the Food Network – It can be very helpful to watch the Food Network, or any cooking channel available in your country. Not only will you learn new and classic recipes, but there are shows that explain how the ingredients you use interact with each other. There are shows that also teach the audience how to plan healthy meals, and how to choose the best ingredients.

2. Your SmartPhone or your iPad – There are so many apps that are available now for the iPhone, iPad and Android phones. You just need to download them on your phone or iPad, and you will have access to thousands of recipes with ingredients and directions anytime, anywhere. Also, since we carry our phones and iPads with us, you can bring the information with you when you shop. There is no need to make a list of the ingredients. Aside from the apps, your loved ones and friends can share recipes with you via SMS. My mom sends me recipes via text message all the time. I usually text her the outcome of the recipe also.

3. Online Recipe Websites – Most people are online now, and there are so many blogs that feature cooking and recipe sites. The benefit here is that you can view the comments and recommendations from other people who have tried the recipes themselves. There are sites that have forums where people share how they have used the recipes and how they have added their own twists to them.

4. YouTube – If you are the type of person who can’t follow instructions by reading them, and it’s easier for you to follow step by step instructions via video, you can always check out the videos uploaded on YouTube. Again, here you can see the recommendations and the comments from people who have tried the dish on their own.

5. Twitter and Facebook – I have wonderful people that share recipes with me via Twitter and Facebook. You can get a lot of tips and inspiration by sharing pictures and ideas via the social networking platforms. You will be surprised at the number of people who have the same challenges in the kitchen as you, and they often offer helpful solutions. They sometimes even suggest the best ingredients and where to get them on sale.

Image Credits: [Bernd Jürgens / Shutterstock] [Luiz Rocha / Shutterstock]