Advice for a cooking teen!!!?

Question

Hi, i just like to have some words to boost me up... I am 17 & It has just been a while since i discovered my passion in cooking. No one taught me to cook (yeah i know how to cook but i consider myself a "beginer"), and i just learned it from my self with the help of recipe books and/or cook books that i have in hand. Sometimes i got it right, and sometimes i mess up with it and when that happens, it make me depress... Any inspirational advice?

wow, i can't believe how inspirational you guys are...thank you so much and surely i will enrich my passion.;).

Answer 1

every one has messed up dishes. Even the best of chefs can have a day off. But with cooking as with everything else practice makes perfect. try perfecting some basic skills: learn how to use a good cooking knife, learn how to dose the heat of your furnace or oven depending on the dish,...
taste and taste some more. Learn to discover the flavours and aromas of ingredients and try to combine and experiment. I know that tasting olive oil or pure herbs is not as pleasing for every one but if you don't aquire their individual tastes you'll never be able to encorporate them in a dish of your own.
last but not least enjoy the food you make it'll make you enjoy cooking even more.

Answer 2

Because there are so few jobs around now it is difficult to advise someone like this who actually has one. Many people are coming out of universities with good degrees only to find that the only available jobs are in shops or cafes. I know quite a few new graduates who are washing dishes in cafes and others who are shelf fillers in supermarkets. All that education and expense to get nothing better than they could have had without the degree makes no sense. Where it is possible to keep the job and get an education at the same time (perhaps via the Open University in U.K. ) that is the best option. My son did that and still does the work he did before the O.U. courses but, one day he might be able to use the two degrees he has earned.

Answer 3

Honey, your 17, the mere fact that your even attempting to cook should be commendable. Hat's off to you!!! You should be proud of yourself. I'm a lot older than you and I still get it wrong on occasions. ( I can usually tell by the wrinkled up noses from my kids) That's a fact of life. That's how you learn. If I got depressed every time I got it wrong, I'd be on Prozac. I learn from my mistakes and I move on. Stick with the basics at first and then gradually try something else. What I mean is don't start yourself off with Beef Wellingtons, Start small, end big. Trust your palette and go with your instincts. Good luck you future Chef.

Answer 4

Messing it up as you say is gonna happen,especially with new recipes or procedures. even after culinary school and working for years in kitchens it happens to the best of us. Sometimes a chef will share his recipe, but the procudure remains a mystery to all who have not seen him prepare the dish, How ever at 17 and teaching your self you've moved farther along than most people in the world. If every could cook My handle may be masreplumber or master car parker or something, its evident you have the will and drive to succeed so follow your heart, Cooking is one of the hardest things you will ever love doing but once its in your system it never leaves. Stick with it and if you decide to turn pro be ready for and exciting life. A career in which your abilities and talents will be challenged every day , and for some od us that is what drives us to perfection, Even a failure at times shoulkd serve to remind you there is much to learn, learn from it and move on, it happens, evn to me even now . Welcome to the world of Kitchens.

Answer 5

It happens to everyone! If you ever get a chance, look at the first cooking show, The French Chef with Julia Child. She messed up all the time! In fact, she gave a lot of good tips on how to fix things.
As long as you are learning and having fun, hold your head up because you have the courage to try new things and that's a lot.

Answer 6

You sound like you have a passion, which is great.
Cooking is one big experiment, that you can play around with, and vary until you have perfected it.
I use cookery books, but I never follow them to the letter.
Sometimes it's great, others it's not.
Practice makes perfect.
The internet will provide some great recipes and even demonstrations. Watch cookery programmes on the telly, and even consider taking a course.
Just keep a positive attitude, don't get depressed about the odd failure, and keep trying.
I wish you the best of success for the future.

Answer 7

I am 15 i LOVE cooking when you cook you must have passion which you seem to have now you also have to have a sense of adventure try something new never be afraid to ask for advise if you need it ask it may just be worth the while. you must have a sense of flavor. example when you think chocolate and strawberry's you think it is good because the sweetness of the flavors mach now chocolate is special because you may use if in many recipes. My FINAL word of advise is that you have to try try try don't be sad if you mess up ask what certain ingredient's are taste them ALWAYS taste while you are cooking at the different stages to see the flavor developing as it comes along.


ps if you ever need help or advise email me at [e-mail]

Answer 8

Nothing inspirational but keep on going the way you are this is how most good cooks and some chefs started. I know this is disappointing but don't be depressed, it happens to us all.

Answer 9

Don't let messing things up stand in your way.......mistakes are the #1 lessons for learning! My mom always told me a great cook learns from her mistakes! Have fun doing what you like to do and cook, cook, cook!

Answer 10

Good on you! My b/f had to teach himself to cook as a kid too or he and his sis & bro wouldn't have eaten! He's now been a chef for 9 yrs. But he can still mess up sometimes so don't stress about it, add lotsa garlic or chilli - that makes anything taste good LOL