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