Get Over The Fear Of Cooking At Home…

I love to cook at home, but it wasn’t always this way.

I remember thinking that boiling vegetables and grilling a chicken breast (pre Vegetarian days) was an adventurous task. If I was feeling particularly frisky I would put some black pepper on before cooking… oh la la!!

I ate plain and reasonably healthy but didn’t cook very exotically not because I did not love exotic food but because I had a fear that it would come out tasting awful. Many people have conveyed this same excuse to me when expressing why they don’t cook at home.

Then I became Vegetarian (see my post about Why I became Vegetarian). Shuffling round the supermarket with a budget in mind I ended up finding myself filling my basket with vegetables, fruit and beans. Faced with a dinner of boiled rice, beans and veggies every night was not the greatest feeling in the world so I was forced to start thinking about the idea of actually cooking something a little exotic.

I have always loved Indian food and even pre-Vegetarian I had often ate Vegetarian meals at the curry house. So I knew this was a good option. After convincing myself that I could run to the chip shop anyway if the food came out awful I started scouring online for recipes and my cupboard quickly became full of Indian spices that I had previously never heard of!

Later on I became extremely budget conscious and found that Italian food was especially cheap to make so started experimenting with pasta sauces created totally from scratch and often also attempted Chinese style dishes and more and more Indian food. Through necessity I had become a home chef and I loved it. A lot of the food I created and still create is pretty awful but you learn something about a new spice or a new way of cooking every time. I was forced to get over my fear but I am certain that anyone can get over it with just a little push.

Here are some tips to get you over the fear and turn you into a regular Gordon Ramsey (just be careful with the cuss words).

Start simple. Try and recreate something easy that your mother used to make you as a kid. Even give her a call and get the recipe, Spaghetti Bologanaise or a roast dinner are both great places to start.
Get an online mentor. I have fallen in love with Manjula’s Kitchen (see my French Indian Roti Manjula competition entry). The great thing about Manjula is that she is a normal middle aged Indian lady just showing you via video how to cook really yummy Indian dishes. They don’t always come out as great as hers look as I don’t have the same effortless skill as her. But every recipe I have followed has tasted great. Youtube is full of valuable cooking videos and possible mentors in any kind of food you want.
Pay for lessons. Cooking lessons for a day or two may be the perfect way to kick off your new hobby. Having a professional show you a few simple tricks could really give you the starter confidence that you need. You may find some very affordable options at your local community college.
Experiment! Even if you have no idea what you are doing start playing with bits you have to hand. I often buy spices or ingredients that I have never heard of and try them out. If really stuck you can go online and find a recipe to help you out.
Commit to cooking for a date! This is really adventurous but if you commit to a date to cook for a potential partner, friends or even your husband/wife then you will be thrown in the deep end and will often swim to the surface. If not then you can always call in a take away, there is nothing to lose and so much to gain!

I hope these ideas give you some help and I would love to know if you have a fear or got over a fear of cooking.

Thanks a million,

Forest.

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Tags: cant cook wont cook, cooking at home, cooking is too hard, fear of cooking, i cant cook, scared of cooking

12 Responses to “Get Over The Fear Of Cooking At Home…”

Ruth - Web Career Girl

28. Feb, 2010

I used to be rubbish at cooking too – well not even rubbish, I just thought I was. At university a few years ago I ate real junk (typical student), but when I met my current boyfriend he really convinced me that cooking wasn’t so bad. He is a great cook – some people just seem to have a knack for knowing what goes well together. But since I am at home more I, weirdly, have become the one who now makes the new recipes etc. It’s great fun. The best part? We eat GREAT food pretty much every day of the week, and it isn’t expensive. And becoming vegetarian has not held us back at all, if anything it makes you more open to different great tastes.

Reply to this comment
- Forest
  
  01. Mar, 2010
  
  Hey Ruth,
  
  That’s just it, once you create a few good meals you start to realise with a little effort you can eat as good as going to a restaurant and it can be really fun!
  
  Even for the day to day you can create quick easy meals with minimal cost and effort.
  
  Thanks.
  
  Reply to this comment
Walter

01. Mar, 2010

Cooking has been part of my life and I love to experiment with different dishes. I believe that with everything we want to master, practicing and practicing and never giving up can make us a master (in cooking).

Reply to this comment
- Forest
  
  01. Mar, 2010
  
  Hey Walter, that’s excellent. I agree practice makes perfect.
  
  Reply to this comment
Daddy Paul

01. Mar, 2010

I am to the point that I do not even like eating out. My wife and I are both on special diets which makes eating out difficult. I worked as a chief’s assistant to work my way through college which comes in handy.
If you are afraid of cooking study some ethnic style cooking. There are some websites that have that have step by step pics or videos. (you tube Ehow)
Daddy Paul´s last blog ..The 2010 portfolio results for the end of February.

Reply to this comment
- Forest
  
  02. Mar, 2010
  
  Hey Daddy Paul,
  
  That’s awesome. I love eating out but often do make better food at home…. Cooking is a real pleasure when things start working.
  
  World cooking is awesome and if you need a head start cooking lessons can be found at affordable prices.
  
  Reply to this comment
The Rat

03. Mar, 2010

I love to cook at home. On weekends, my wife and I will cook up a nice meal that goes nice with a bottle of red wine.

I do like to eat out occasionally, but its rather expensive and we normally eat out more when we are on vacation.

Nice post!
The Rat´s last blog ..Free Coffee At McDonald’s: Coffee War Heats Up Big Time!

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Forest

04. Mar, 2010

Hey The Rat,

I love a meal and some wine at home, perfect!

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Francis

09. Mar, 2010

I used to be the same way! Till I did the math and realized how much of my paycheck is going to eating out, and take out. So much money just out the door. But I like your advice, starting simple is great, not too overwhelming at first is good. I also love cooking now!
Francis´s last blog ..Chef Knife Sets

Reply to this comment
- Forest
  
  11. Mar, 2010
  
  Thanks Francis, it’s also so much healthier to cook at home!!
  
  Reply to this comment
Mike - Saving Money Today

12. Mar, 2010

I love eating at home and I’ve really learned to enjoy cooking too. The best is when my wife and I cook dinner together (with a little help from the kids too sometimes) and then we sit and enjoy it with a nice bottle of wine. Good times.
Mike – Saving Money Today´s last blog ..Taking the Yakezie Challenge

Reply to this comment
- Forest
  
  13. Mar, 2010
  
  That’s fantastic that the kids get in on the act too…. You should organise a night where they do ALL the cooking
  
  Reply to this comment