Helpful Websites

Epicurious 

This website is wonderful.  You will learn so much from visiting epicurious.com including which ice you should use for our cocktails.  Epicurious has hundreds of recipes to pick from.  I love how their recipes are organized based on different things such as quick and easy, seasonal cooking, and healthy cooking.  This makes finding the perfect recipe really easy.  I also like the articles and guides section of this website.  There are tons of articles and guides that are also categorized by things such as holidays and parties, everyday cooking, healthy cooking, and how to cook.  These articles and guides are very helpful and come in quite handy if I do say so myself.  There are also technique videos that show you how to do different things.  This website will definitely be one you will want to visit.

 

The link below will take you to the website

 

Epicurious

 

 

Williams Sonoma

 This website has huge selections of cookware.  Everything you will need to cook can be found on this website.  There are many different types of cookware you can pick from.  What I like about this site is that each product comes with videos and reviews.  These make picking the best cookware a lot easier.  Not only will you find cookware, but you will also find things to help organize your kitchen and make your kitchen one of your favorite rooms in the house.  There are so many wonderful products, you will want to buy them all!  Whether you are looking for a specific pot or pan, or looking to re do your entire kitchen, this is the place to go.

 

The link below will take you to the website

 

Williams Sonoma

 

 

Crock-Pot 

Making a great homemade meal does not mean you have to cook it right before you are about to eat.  Making meals in the crock pot saves a lot of time and it is very easy to put everything in the crock pot in the morning and forget about it until you are ready to eat.  Crock-Pot’s website is wonderful for finding recipes for the crock-pot.  These recipes are delicious and  the instructions are great.  This website offers hundreds of recipes for main dishes, dips, appetizers, desserts, and many more.  If you want a great meal that you just throw in the crock-pot and forget about it, this website is just for you.

 

The link below will take you to the website

 

Crock-Pot

Newly Found Blogs

Simply Recipes    

I have found another blog that I really enjoy.  Simply Recipes is a family food blog that includes tons of easy to follow recipes.  Elise Bauer is the writer of the blog and she shares her family recipes and of which many of them her and her family have created themselves. 

 

As you all know, I love blogs that include pictures!  Simply Recipes has a ton of pictures for each recipe.  These pictures are what draw me in and get me interested in the meal.  When I am looking through the directions on how to cook the meal there are step by step pictures that help me get a feel of what to expect when I make the meal myself.  I often times find myself going back and looking at these pictures when I am cooking the meal to make sure I am doing everything right and it all looks right. 

 

Another thing I like about Simply Recipes is that it is “simply recipes.”  I do not have to worry about all the other information on the blog because Simply Recipes just has recipes.  And to top it off the recipes are categorized by the type.  If I am looking for a meal that includes pork all I have to do is click on the pork button and a whole list of recipes involving pork shows up.

 

I think this blog will be very helpful for anyone who is looking for new recipes.  Not only are there hundreds of recipes available, but the instructions are very easy to follow.

 

To follow Simply Recipes click on the link  Simply Recipes

 

 

FN Dish

Another blog I recently started to follow is FN Dish which is a blog for the Food Network.  I have always enjoyed watching the Food Network and now I have the chance to follow their blog.  I must say, this is not my favorite blog, but I still enjoy it.  The recipes available on the blog are great, but they do not have pictures to help you with the recipe.  Don’t get me wrong, the recipes are great, but not having pictures throughout the steps makes me question if I am doing everything right. 

 

I also like that FN Dish posts different blogs about foods to eat and how to eat healthy.  These are good to read and help me gain more knowledge about food and eating healthy. 

 

To follow this blog click on the link FN Dish

 

My Life Runs on Food  

 

The third blog I have found recently is My Life Runs on Food.  This blog is well written and has wonderful recipes.  This blog do not only have food recipes, but there are also different recipes for drinks and delicious desserts.  The best part about this blog is these recipes are healthier recipes.  These days I am trying to cook healthier and this blog helps me find healthier recipes.  Sanura Weathers, writer of My Life Runs on Food, explains how to make well balanced meals.  Sanura knows that making homemade meals is not easy especially with everyone’s busy schedules, but she teaches her followers how to make these healthy, balanced, meals even when you have a busy schedule. 

 

To follow this blog click on the link My Life Runs on Food

5 Things you should NOT do when learning to cook

When you start learning to cook it can be very intimidating and you don’t know where to start or what to avoid.  Listed below is a list of what you should not do when you are learning to cook.

 

·         Start with a hard, complicated recipe- start with a simple recipe and ease your way up to the harder, more complicated.  It will take time, but be patient

·         Give up if you fail- no one is perfect, everyone fails every once in a while.  When you start learning how to cook things will be new to you so chances are your meals won’t turn out perfect the first time around.  Just keep trying and do not give up.

·         Pick a recipe that has a lot of ingredients you do not like-if there are a lot of ingredients in a recipe you do not like chances are you will not like the end result of the meal.  This also goes for not making a meal if the main ingredient is one you do not like.

·         Expect to be a professional cook right away- learning to cook takes time and practice.  You will not be a professional cook after just a few lessons.

·         Don’t quit!  Cooking is very easy and fun if you just give it a try.  Once you know the basics of cooking it gets easier.  All you have to do is try new things and keep practicing and you will continue to get better

 

If you follow these 5 things you should not do when you start learning to cook you should be good!

Cooking for the Holidays

Fourth of July just passed and I thought it would be a good idea to talk about holiday meals.  We kept it easy this Fourth of July by just doing hamburgers and hot dogs, but if you are hosting the party for the holidays you might want to impress the guest by making something homemade.  This always pleases the guests and makes you a great party host.  But it can be very stressful for you.  The holidays alone can be stressful, but making a homemade meal for a crowd can definitely make you crazy.
 

First off, when hosting a party I do not recommend trying a new recipe.  When you try a new recipe for the first time you might run in to some problems including not liking the ending result.  For this reason I suggest making a meal you have already made before and you feel comfortable making. 

The next step is to sit down and decide on the menu for the party.  Are you just making the main course? Or will you be making appetizers, sides, and desserts?  Remember, do not over do it.  If you plan on going all out I recommend making things that can be made a few days ahead or getting some people to help you with all the cooking. 

Once you figure out what you will be making determine how many people you will be serving and make a list of all the ingredients you will need and how much you will need.   

Now make a plan on when each part of the meal is going to be made.  Determine how long each meal takes and decide when you should start each part of the meal so everything finishes around the same time. 

The most important part of cooking for the holidays is to not over do it.  If you plan to cook too much you will stress yourself out and ruin the holidays for yourself.  Plan a simple meal and make sure you plan everything out ahead of time and you should be good for the holidays.

14 things learned from ACC255

14 Things I learned from ACC255

 

Before taking ACC255 I did not know that much about websites or blogs.  I use the internet all the time, but I have never created a blog or a website.  Over the last 4 weeks I have learned all about creating a website and a blog.  Eventually I would like to open my own bakery or catering business.  Knowing how to create a website will be very helpful.  I would like my business to have a website so my customers can learn more about my company and possible order off my website.  I am not sure if I will continue to blog, but I will definitely follow other peoples blogs because I have found it very interesting keeping up with others blogs.

 

Below are 14 things I learned in the last 4 weeks of ACC255.

 

1.      How to create a meaningful website

2.      How to create a blog

3.      How to post to a blog and how long blog posts should be

4.      How to add links to a website and to a blog

5.      How to add a contact to your website or blog so you do not receive spam to your email

6.      Why having a pen name is a good idea

7.      How to add page counters to your website so you can track how many times each page is viewed.

8.      When writing a blog you should write it as if you are talking to the readers in person.

9.      You can add donation pages to a blog or website so your readers can donate to you or the company.

10.  How to put advertisements on your website and blog

11.  That you can get paid to put advertisements on your website or blog

12.  Having a sneeze page is something a blog should have to help keep track of the important posts

13.  Recommending other blogs or websites that are in your niche will show your readers that you are not just about yourself, but you in fact follow other bloggers to gain more knowledge

14.  You can track the traffic on your website or blog using different softwares

Must Buy Products

Logo Apron 

This apron is a must have for any cook.  When you are cooking it is almost impossible to stay clean.  You never know when a pot of spaghetti sauce is going to bubble and splatter all over the place, including your clothes!  This apron is great for staying clean while cooking.  

The apron comes in multiple sizes and colors so everyone will be happy with their apron.  This apron is also stain resistant which means you don’t have to worry if hard to get out foods spill on it.  Being stain resistant also means that your apron will always be clean (when you put it on that is) and you won’t have to worry about your guests seeing a stained apron on you.

 

 Logo Container 

Having the Logo Container is a great addition to the kitchen.  Having containers filled with commonly used ingredients makes using these ingredients easier to get to.  I like filling my containers with sugar, flour, and brown sugar.  I also use these containers for keeping my extra garlic cloves in a sealed container so they last longer and don’t make the whole kitchen smell like garlic. 

The Logo Containers are air tight sealed which helps make the ingredients last longer.  This is what I love about the containers.  Knowing my ingredients are being stored nicely and are always conveniently on the counter for  easy use makes cooking a lot easier.

 

Logo Cutting Board 

Cutting boards are a must have in the kitchen.  Every cook will need to cut different ingredients for their meals such as meats, vegetables, and fresh herbs.  The Logo Cutting Board is the perfect cutting board to use to cut all these ingredients.   

The Logo Cutting Board comes in multiple sizes which is great for using it for small cutting tasks or large cutting tasks.  The cutting board is also glass which means it can be washed in the dishwasher.  Being class also means that it is safer for cutting meats.  The glass surface prevents the liquids from the meats from soaking in the board and contaminating other foods cut on the cutting board.

 

All three of these products are a must have in the kitchen.  These three products will help make cooking easier and cleaner. Below is a link that will take you to all three of these products

 

Must Buy Products

Product Recommendations

Real Food University   

Real Food University  is a great site and cookbook that I found very useful when I started cooking.  Real Food University  is the perfect site for new cooks or for cooks looking to improve their cooking skills.  Real Food University has a cookbook that has wonderful, tasty recipes that are easy to make and follow the recipes.  Real Food University offers multiple courses you can sign up for to help teach you how to cook. 

Real Food University also offers cooking episodes that you can watch to learn how to make different recipes.  There are also hundreds of recipes offered by Real Food University.   

New cooks often want to know how healthy their meals are.  Real Food University has a nutrition section that teaches you about the nutritional facts and helps you learn how to make healthy meals. 

To purchase Real Food University follow the link below 

 

Real Food University

 

 First timers Cookbook 

First timers Cookbook is a wonderful way to learn how to cook.  Taking the online courses offered by First timers Cookbook will teach you everything you need to know if you are new to the kitchen.  You will learn everything from how to change any meal to make it how you want, how to impress everyone with your cooking, how to pick the best ingredients, and many more knowledgeable skills that you will use all the time in the kitchen.  

This online course has taught me so much more about cooking than any other resources I have used.  One of the things I liked most was that the courses were online so I could take the class on my time and not have to worry about going in to a school.  The classes were taught very well and it made learning to cook very easy.   

Both of these products are great for new cooks in the kitchen.  Both of the products will help you learn more about cooking.   

To sign up for First timers Cookbook follow the link below 

First timers Cookbook

Food Scales

Having a scale in the kitchen to weigh foods such as meats is something I think every kitchen should have.  Whether you are using the scale to weigh meats, make hamburgers all the same size, or weigh other ingredients, a scale is very helpful. 

I have found one scale I really like.  “The Biggest Loser Digital Food Scale” is what I use and love.  This scale is perfect for weighing anything you need weighed while cooking.  I use this scale mostly when I make burgers.  Before getting this scale my burgers were never the same size which meant they didn’t cook for the same amount of time.  After purchasing this scale my burgers have been the same size.  I have also used this scale to weigh steaks and chicken breasts so I know if they are the same weight and if I need to cook any pieced longer because they weigh more.   

The Biggest Loser Digital Food Scale has an easy to read digital display so you know exactly how much the food weighs.  Along with weighing the food this scale also has the capability to measure the level of fats, sodium, cholesterol, protein, carbohydrates, and sugars.  I personally do not use these measurements that often, but for those of you who are really trying to eat healthy this measuring tool would be great for you.

 

For everything this scale does it seems like it would cost a lot, but in fact it doesn’t!  It cost less than $20 which is a great price for a scale like this.  If you are looking for a great kitchen food scale I would recommended The Biggest Loser Digital Food Scale.

Below is a link to where you can purchase The Biggest Loser Digital Food Scale.

The Biggest Loser Digital Food Scale

Top 10 Substitutions Every Cook Should Know

The worse thing that can happen while cooking is realizing you are missing one of the ingredients.  I’ve noticed I realize I am missing something after I have already gone to the store or after I have already started cooking and can’t take a break to run to the store.  Listed below are some common substitutions that everyone should know, or keep a list of in their kitchen.

1.      Bread Crumbs- if you need bread crumbs but do not have them you can use cracker crumbs or ground oats.  If you are supposed to have seasoned bread crumbs mix a about a teaspoon of dried spices to the cracker crumbs or ground oats.  Use the same amount of cracker crumbs or grounds oats that the recipe calls for of bread crumbs.

2.      Sour cream- if your recipe calls for sour cream but you don’t have any, you can use plain yogurt.

3.      Chicken or Beef Broth- if you don’t have chicken or beef broth you can use 1 bouillon cup mixed with one cup of boiling water.  Another option is to add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce to water.  Or, you can just use vegetable broth.

4.      Butter- if you don’t have butter you can use the same amount needed of margarine.  Or you can use 1 cup of shortening with ½ teaspoon salt.

5.      Unsalted Butter- a great substation for unsalted butter is 1 cup of shortening.  Or you can use 7/8 cup vegetable oil to equal 1 cup of unsalted butter.

6.      Egg- a substitution for 1 egg could be 3 tablespoon of mayonnaise.  You can also use ½ of a banana mashed with ½ tsp baking powder.

7.      Fresh Herbs- if you don’t have fresh herbs, dried herbs work just fine.  You won’t need as much as what the recipe calls for.  If the recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs, only use 1teaspoon of dried herbs.

8.      Lemon Juice- a substitute for lemon juice would be ½ teaspoon vinegar, but only use half of what the recipe calls for.  You can also use white wine or lime juice. For white wine and lime juice you can use the same amount the recipe calls for of lemon juice.

9.      Onion- if you don’t have onion, you can use green onions or shallots.  Another option is to use  ¼ cup of dried minced onion or ¼ cup onion powder per 1 cup of chopped onion required.

10.  Wine- if you need a substitute for wine chicken or beef broth work great. Use the same amount you would use of wine.  Another substitute is fruit juice mixed with 2 teaspoons vinegar.  Use the same amount of fruit juice as you would wine.

Helpful Links

Some things I have found useful for new cooks is  knowing the products, knowing the terms used, and being able to easily follow a recipe.  I have found three great links that cover these three categories.

Finding the best cookware and cooking utensils can be hard.  There are thousands of products available today and deciding which ones are best for you and your kitchen can be hard to figure out.  CHOW is a great blog that reviews products so you can be more informed.

            The cooking vocabulary is huge.  There are a lot of different names for things that mean the same think.  Food Subs is a thesaurus of cooking terms.  This helps cooks learn different names of foods, cookware, and it even has pictures to help everyone learn the different names.

            Food Wishes is one page I love.  New cooks can be very intimidated when it comes to making things they have never made before.  If the recipe only shows the end result, or worse no picture at all, this could make the cook very worried about trying to meal.  Food Wishes goes one step father when it comes to helping teach people how to make meals; they have video recipes to follow!  This makes a cook feel very good about trying a new recipe because they have a step by step video to follow alone with.

            All three of these links take you to wonderful pages that you can use all the time.  Reviews of products, thesaurus of terms, and video instructions can be very helpful for new cooks.

Plummelo's website

Plummelo is a good website for new cooks to find easy recipes.  The website offers recipes for hundreds of easy to make meals.  I have found this website very useful when looking for simple recipes.  Having simple recipes is an important step when it comes to teaching people how to cook. You want to start off with simple, easy recipes so the new cooks don’t freak out and give up right away.  Plummelo’s recipes are easy and not very complicated to follow.

Another thing I really like about Plummelo’s website is that they have a “shopping list” you can create while looking for recipes.  This has come in very handy why I find a recipe I want to make.  All you have to do is save the recipe and then click the icon to add the ingredients to your shopping list.  When you view your shopping list you can edit how much of each ingredient you need or delete ingredients you already have.  There is also an option to add other items such as toothpaste to your shopping list.  This makes shopping so much easier because my shopping list is all on one sheet. 

One thing about Plummelo’s website that I do not like is that it is supposed to be a website that helps new cooks but there are no pictures that go alone with the recipes.  There is a final product picture, but there aren’t pictures that go with each step of the meal preparation.  I think this is a very important thing to have when you are teaching people how to make meals.  Having pictures helps them see what each step should look like and it helps encourage them when the picture looks similar to what they have made.

Overall I think Plummelo’s website is great for finding recipes, but it is not a very good website for teaching new cooks how to prepare meals. 

 

Below is a link to Plummelo's website:

 

Plummelo

Magma Gourmet Meat Thermometer

One product I think all kitchens should have is a meat thermometer.  Making sure your meat is fully cooked is a very important thing when it comes to cooking.  If your meat is not cooked to the right temperature those who consume the meat can get very sick.

            There are many types of meat thermometers.  There are cheaper ones that aren’t instant reads and there are expensive ones that give you an instant read.  There are also meat thermometers that you can leave in the meat while cooking, and there are ones that can’t be left in while cooking.  I have found the Magma Gourmet Meat Thermometer to be very useful.  This thermometer has a small needle that shows what the temperature of the meat is.  I use this thermometer all the time.  It lists what temperatures different meats need to be at to be safe.  This thermometer also has a little red arrow that you can slide to the temperature you need the meat to be so you can easily see when your meat is done. 

The Magma Gourmet Meat Thermometer costs about $10.  This is a great price for a tool that is used to measure the temperature of the meats and nothing else.  For all of you new cooks I recommend getting the Magma Gourmet Meat Thermometer because it is reasonably priced and gets the job done.  You don’t need a fancy meat thermometer to tell you what the temperature of your meat is.  The Magma Gourmet Meat Thermometer is a great thermometer that everyone should have in their kitchen.

 

Below is a link that takes you to a website to purchase the Magma Gourmet Meat Thermometer

 

Magma Gourmet Meat Thermometer

Website Review

Aside from this blog, New to the Kitchen also has their own website.  I am still working on the website, and it will continue to be updated.  This website is used to supply our customers with all the information they need.  The website will be a very useful page for customers to learn and get their questions answered.

As of right now the website will supply you with information about New to the Kitchen.  The website explains the purpose of New to the Kitchen and how taking classes with New to the Kitchen will help teach you how to cook.  There is also a page about me, the creator of New to the Kitchen and a contact page.

I am still working on the website and there are a lot of things I plan on adding.  First of all there will be a page dedicated to getting signed up for classes.  There are different classes you can sign up for and they will each be explained on the website.  I will also be adding recipes with detailed instructions on how to make each meal.  On the website there will also be a FAQs page that will answer some of the common questions new cooks have about meal preparation. 

For now you can visit the website and start to learn about New to the Kitchen.  If you have any suggestions or would like to see certain things on the website please use the contact page to email me with any of these suggestions.

 

Below is a link to the website

New To the Kitchen

Exploring Other's Blog

My goal as the writer of this blog and the creator of New to the Kitchen is to teach more people how to cook and not be afraid of the kitchen.  Recently I have found another person who has the same goal as I do.  Mandy is the writer of the blog Learn, Laugh, Cook.  Mandy’s blog is a great spot for new cooks. 

One thing I enjoy about Mandy’s blog is that she has a page for just about everything including her failures!  I think Mandy showing that she is not always successful in the kitchen is very important because even though she fails once in a while, she doesn’t let these failures keep her out of the kitchen.  Failures help you learn from your mistakes and trust me, not ever meal will be a success; you’ll just have to brush it off and laugh about your failure and move on.  Mandy also explains each step of the meal preparation and includes pictures.  Using pictures is a great thing to have especially for new cooks.  Knowing you should expect to see while cooking helps the cook know they are doing everything right.

One area I think Mandy could add to her blog would be a page about the different utensils she uses and why you should use these utensils.  When someone is new to cooking usually they have no idea what pots and pans and cookware they should use.  Using the correct cookware when preparing meals can help prevent f meal failure.

Below is a link to Mandy’s blog, Learn, Laugh, Cook.  Visit her blog and see what you can learn from her!

 

Learn, Laugh, Cook

Keeping the Pantry Full

Getting started in the kitchen can’t happen if you don’t have the ingredients.  I’ve noticed that many new cooks find a recipe and take that to the store with them and purchase all the ingredients at once.  The problem with this is you are only getting the ingredients for one meal.  This means you’ll be back at the store when you go to make your next meal.  This also means that the cost of the meal can be pretty pricy because you are buying everything at once.

            One think I hate is looking in the pantry or the fridge and noticing I have nothing to cook! I understand that it is pretty impossible to have every ingredient on hand when you decide to make a meal, but having a stock supply can help cut down on the number of visits to the grocery store and cut down on the price of all the ingredients.  If you keep your pantry stocked with common ingredients, you will find cooking a lot less stressful.

            I have found another blogger who’s goal is to teach people how to cook just like me.  Lexy, who is the writer of  U Can’t Cook: But I Can Teach You has a wonderful post about foods you should always have in your pantry.  Lexy explains how these ingredients are ones that you can use to make a variety of meals.

            Check out the link below to see a list of ingredients that everyone should have handy at all times.  Keeping these on hand will mean you will always have ingredients for a meal and you won’t have to resort to ordering a pizza instead.

U Can't Cook: But I can Teach You

6 Must have Pots and Pans

Every kitchen should be equipped with the basic pots and pans to help you get started making delicious meals.  Here is a list of the 6 pots and pans everyone should have:

 

1.      Sauce pans- sauce pans can be used for more than just sauce.  Sauce pans come in a variety of sizes and are perfect for making sauces, sides, veggies, and many more.  I recommend having at least two sauce pans, one small one and one large one. Make sure both of these sauce pans have lids that fit.

2.      Roasting Pan- roasting pans are used to help keep cooking even and roasting pans allow the roast to lie on the rack.  Roasting pans help brown the roast and it also collects the juices on the bottom that can later be used to create sauces and gravy.  One roasting pan should be enough for starters.

3.      Dutch Oven- Dutch Ovens can be used on the stove top and in the oven which means fewer dishes to do!  A Dutch Oven is great for making soups, stews, and steaming veggies.  One large Dutch Oven should be a good start.

4.      Baking Sheets- baking sheets can be used for a variety of meal preparation.  Baking sheets can be used for cooking meats, veggies, and desserts.  I recommend having 3, two large ones and one small one.

5.      Skillet- skillets are a great tool for making meals that require searing, steaming, sautéing and browning of ingredients.  Skillets are also great for making sauces and stir-fries.  I recommend getting a large nonstick skillet that has high sides.

6.      Grill Pan-grill pans are great for those nights when your grill isn’t available.  Grill pans allow for the drippings from the food to drip away leaving beautiful grill marks on your food.

 

Starting with these pots and pans will get you started making meals. Once you start cooking more you will learn which pots and pans you use the most and which ones you will be needing more of to help with your future meals. 

Getting Started

Deciding to actually learn how to cook can sometimes seem like a hard and scary experience.  But let me tell you know, cooking is not as hard as it seems and it is not scary.  Cooking is actually quite exciting and seeing and tasting the end result is very rewarding. 

For those of you who need a little encouragement when it comes to cooking, here are some helpful hints:

• Being the chef means you get to pick what you’re having
• Being the chef means you get to add what you want (or don’t want) to the meal
• Being the chef allows you to try new things
• Being the chef means you know exactly what you’re eating
• Seeing and tasting the end result of a meal is more rewarding if you’re the one who cooked it

Here are some helpful hints to get you started in the kitchen:

• Look for recipes that come with pictures (you eat with your eyes first)
• Look for recipes that contain ingredients you enjoy (if you don't like the main ingredients, chances are you won't like the final outcome)
• Start with something easy, you don't need a five star restaurant type of meal
• Pick a recipe that doesn’t take long (having to slave for hours over a meal is very discouraging)
• Some quick and easy ideas include pasta meals or chicken meals. 

Following these helpful hints will get you in the kitchen and ready to start cooking! 

Once you have mastered these, you will be on your way to making harder meals, using more ingredients (some you’ve probably never even heard of), being more creative when you are preparing the meals, and you’ll find that cooking isn’t as bad as you once thought it was. 

And remember, it’s not as scary as it looks! 

Good luck,

Chef Jillian

About Me

Hello!  I am the writer of this blog and the creator of New to the Kitchen!  You will know me as Chef Jillian!  As you probably assumed, I love to cook!  I have been helping out in the kitchen for as long as I can remember.  I always loved helping my mom prepare meals.  Yes, my favorite part about helping was being able to be the taste tester!  Helping my mom is what got me into cooking.  Now that I am old enough to be left alone in the kitchen I find myself cooking all the time.  I have a couple favorite meals such as shrimp pasta, chicken parmesan, and clam chowder soup that I enjoy making all the time, but I also like trying new recipes whenever I can.  For those of you who know what Pinterest is, I could spend all day (and sometimes do) on Pinterest looking up new recipes to try.

When my sister and I went away to school I did most of the cooking because my sister did not know how to cook.   She was always asking what was for dinner and when dinner was going to be ready.  Now, like I said, I love to cook, but with school it wasn’t always easy for me to have meals made every night.  That is when I decided it was time to teach my sister how to cook.  She was a little iffy about it, but once she started looking for recipes to make she found she wanted to cook more and more.  I helped teach her the basics, and now we split the cooking!

After seeing how much learning to cook helped my sister, I thought it would be a good idea to teach other people how to cook.  I love cooking, but I've found that not everyone does simply because they don't know how to cook.  Learning the basics can make one feel more comfortable to be in the kitchen.

Hope you all enjoy reading my posts!

Chef Jillian

About New to the Kitchen

New to the Kitchen is a company that offers classes about cooking.  Whether you are completely new to the kitchen, or if you just want to learn a little more about cooking this is the place to be.  New to the Kitchen will teach you:

1. How to cook main dishes
2. How to cook side dishes
3. How to alter meals each time you make them
4. How to add color to your meals

After taking this class you will be making meals you are proud of and that you enjoy!  Stay tuned for helpful hints and easy recipes that anyone can make!