I want to learn Cooking - help?

Question

Yeah, and worst thing is I don't have anyone to help me! My mom doesn't want to and don't talk about my aunts.

I know going for courses is the way to be but unfortunately, I find it expensive and inconvenient (far from my house).

So can anyone suggest where should I start first? And is there any website that teaches the basics?

Just a guy whom wants to cook for his future love-one =)

Gosh, all of your answers are great.... it's hard to decide for best-answer.

I guess I will send this question to voting.
Thanks everyone!

Answer 1

OK, you can start by investing in some good cookbooks. I would suggest "The Joy Of Cooking" because it explains in detail the steps in a dish. Another geed starting cook book is "The New Basic". It too explains in detail what steps to take and sometimes why. You could check at a local "Y" and see if they have classes. Another place is your local community college. Happy Cooking

Answer 2

First of all buy yourself a simple basic cookbook that has a little of everything and lots of photographs. Right now they are on sale everywhere.

Do you watch the Food Network. Take a look at some of the cooking shows like "The Barefoot Contessa" or "Easy Entertaining" Their recipes aren't difficult but they are good and you should be able to learn good techniques from them. Also, Jacques Pepin has a PBS show that teaches you technique.

You can buy old videos by Julia Child's old programs. Her cooking is mostly French but you would learn a lot about the principles and techniques of cook from them.

I believe if you can read you can cook.

Start with simple things and progress from there. It sounds to me like you mom doesn't really enjoy cooking; so she will probably encourage you once you demonstrate you are serious.

You can always come to this site to ask questions about what something means or how something is done. First, read a lot about cooking.

The very best magazine you can get for your purposes is "Cooks Illustrated." There recipes are not exotic but they are perfect. They explain things well and tell you why things are done a certain way.

Good Luck.

Answer 3

I was in the same boat once. I had to teach myself with nobody to help me. What got me started was the Better Homes & Gardens cookbook. The one with the red plaid cover. Read it cover to cover. There are photos of how thing should look, how they shouldn't look, nutritional info, substitutes, and a lot of explanations along with a wide variety of recipes. It's a good investment.

The Betty Crocker cookbook is designed just like the BH&G one. Those are still to this day my 2 favorite cookbooks I still turn to.

Just start something you think you can do, and you can work on more difficult stuff as you master more things. And above all, do not worry if you screw up a dish. That's how you learn. Just think about what went wrong and what you'd do different the next time.