How I developed a passion for cooking
I developed a passion for cooking while trying to be more cost effective with my husband's and my meals. I realized cooking at home is so much cheaper and I enjoy go shopping to gather ingredients. My husband really liked my simple meals and now I am taking my cooking to the next level.
My favorite things to cook
I'll try to cook almost anything. I really enjoy making salsas, pasta dishes like chicken alfredo, homemade salad dressings and dipping sauces, casseroles, baked fish, lime chicken, curries, Asian dishes, grilled foods, and I could go on. I too love to replicate dishes from restaurants.
The kitchen tool(s) I can't live without
A nice set of stainless measuring spoons, at least 1 good knife, a 2 cup measuring cup with all the odd measurements, a whisk, a decent sized cutting board, a silicone spatula, large mixing bowls, and a sturdy set of tongs. Everything else I can make do without. I don't need fancy machines or processors. Just something else to clean. If I need to chop or stir that's what's the knife and whisk are for!
How I learned
My grandmother and mom showed me the basics from an early age. I actually learned to cook from fresh ingredients at one of my previous jobs on accident. I was a cook at a restaurant that made their menu items from scratch. Other places I've worked food was thaw and heat to serve, everything was pre-prepared. So without trying I really learned how to pair ingredients, sides, and spices to create a cohesive meal. Following recipes at work made me want to go home and experiment with different meal ideas and my husband and family are also enjoying my new found cooking talents.
Advice
- I love salt but lots of spice mixtures already have salt in them and saltiness may overpower the food, so I try to find seasonings that do not have salt in them. I'll add salt later.
- A lot of recipes seem to leave important directions out. Like "form into balls before frying or add this here" It's trial and error and a lot of common sense to figure out what's missing.
- Most recipes leave ingredients out or ask for too much. Experimentation is key.
- Substitutions can be used but the food will taste better if you don't.
- Real butter makes everything taste better.
- Taste everything you can while cooking!
