| Whether you're a novice in the kitchen or just trying to | | | | books on the market that will help you with the basics, |
| better your existing skills, these 10 top tips may help. | | | | while some of the bigger ones will even be useful as |
| Cooking is meant to be fun - and here's how... | | | | you develop your cooking skills. |
| 1. Give yourself plenty of time - the only thing worse | | | | 6. Stick to things you like - it can be tricky determining |
| than rushing your food when you eat, is rushing it when | | | | the success of your culinary adventures if you're not |
| you cook. Give yourself a deadline and you'll no doubt | | | | sure what you're cooking is supposed to taste like |
| be stressed and covered in flour by the time your | | | | when done well, so stay with what you know. Then, |
| ETA comes alone. Until you're comfortable and | | | | when you're feeling more daring, use your well-honed |
| confident in the kitchen, don't set yourself unrealistic | | | | cooking skills to help you expand your palate. |
| expectations. | | | | 7. Get tips from friends and family - struggling to get |
| 2. Do a checklist of ingredients - having half your food | | | | your gravy just right? Is your meat too dry? Whatever |
| cooking when you realise you've forgotten an essential | | | | niggling problems you have in the kitchen, it's a safe bet |
| ingredient will have you in a panic, so check the list | | | | that someone you know will have the answer. Tap |
| before you go shopping and then again before you | | | | into that resource whenever you can and you'll be well |
| start cooking. | | | | on your way to success. And if they can't help, then |
| 3. Try meals out for yourself first - if you try new | | | | why not try the internet? |
| dishes out on a dinner party, you're asking for trouble. | | | | 8. Get your kitchen how you want it - if you're using |
| By trying new dishes for yourself and maybe your | | | | your own kitchen, make sure everything is where you |
| other half, you can perfect them for when the next | | | | want it. You don't want to rummaging through |
| dinner party comes along. Alternatively, share the | | | | cupboards half-way through cooking. If you let anyone |
| knowledge that your trying something new with your | | | | else in your kitchen, make sure they leave things |
| dinner guests. It'll take the pressure off and you'll enjoy | | | | where they found them. |
| the cooking experience much more. | | | | 9. Watch cookery shows - find the chefs you like and |
| 4. Use top quality cookware - if your pots and pans | | | | watch their TV shows. They're a great source of |
| have seen better days, then it might be time to | | | | inspiration and some even help you to cook while you |
| upgrade your kitchen equipment. Ranges like Anolon, | | | | watch. |
| Circulon and Meyer are all excellent choices and, most | | | | 10. Have fun with it - in other words, don't put pressure |
| important of all, you can rely on them to last you | | | | on yourself and, if you're not enjoying it, take a break |
| through many happy years of cooking. | | | | and wait for your enthusiasm to return. There's nothing |
| 5. Find popular recipes - when starting off, even the | | | | worse than cooking if you're not in the mood. |
| simplest of dishes can seem frightening. However, | | | | So, if you have the right food, the right cookware set |
| there are many excellent 'cooking for beginners'-type | | | | and plenty of ideas, why not start cooking tonight? |