I never thought I would enjoy cooking. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy it, but rather the fact that I grew up never really thinking about it. It’s sort of a shame since now I have started cooking I truly do enjoy the process. Almost as much as I enjoy the food.
I’ve only been at it for a few weeks, but I have already learned a couple of lessons from my time in the kitchen.
While I have yet to cook something extraordinary, I haven’t been making Easy Mac. My biggest culinary coup to date has been chicken parmesan. It took me a few tries to get everything right. The first time I tried the recipe I didn’t have any flour. The second time I burned half of the chicken cutlets. The third time however, went off without a hitch.
Same scenario with chocolate chip pancakes: the first attempt the batter was too runny; the second attempt the frying pan was too hot; but by the third time came around, they were better than the ones at Waffle House. (Disclosure: I have never eaten at Waffle House — this opinion belongs to my primary food tester.)
Lesson: Cooking takes practice. If you don’t think you can bake a chocolate celebration cake, try anyway.
When I cooked my first meal for others, I gained a new appreciation for how much harder it is to cook for people other than yourself. The variables seem to increase exponentially. You have to cater to what people like and dislike. You have to make sure what you are marking is agreeable with everyone’s dietary systems (religious, personal, etc…) and allergies. Most importantly, you have to ensure there is enough food. That may sound simple, but it’s surprising how fast disappears when you have five people sitting around a table.
Lesson: When cooking for others, be extra prepared.
Finally, for the non-chefs, a suggestion. Try cooking something, you might like it. Bon appétit.