Not all of are born Iron Chef material. To be honest, there are some of us who even manage to burn grilled cheese on a regular basis. Well, cheer up. Here are some resources to help turn you into a culinary genius, or at least seem like one.
AllRecipes.com
Despite its name, allrecipes.com offers a lot more than just recipes. You can watch preparation videos, read reviews from people who have tried the recipes and get answers to your cooking questions. You can also save your favorite recipes as well. The website is very interactive and it is completely free to join. One of the best features of allrecipies.com is the huge collection of recipes that range from gourmet to traditional American classics.
FoodNetwork.com
It is not just about the television shows! Foodnetwork.com is a great place to go to find all sorts of cooking advice as well as videos so that you can take a break from reading text-heavy recipes. From simple fare like preparing mini-hamburgers for your children to Rachael Ray’s Shrimp Scampi and Pasta, you will find something mouth-watering. The website also has a fantastic section about general cooking tips.
Joy of Cooking written by: Irma S. Rombauer, Ethan Becker, and Marion Rombauer Becker
There is a reason this book is a classic. For over 75 years, it has held a special place in kitchens all over the world. The latest edition, updated in 2006, offers classic recipes updated to suit the modern palette and new recipes as well. Additionally, Joy of Cooking is not just a collection of recipes. The book is a reference manual for all things related to cooking; chock full of helpful tips for beginners.
How to Boil Water by Food Network Kitchens
Laugh all you want at the title, but How to Boil Water is one of the simplest and most comprehensive books about learning how to cook that you can find. There are plenty of tips, hints and shortcuts to help amateurs learn their way around the kitchen. The book is also full of beautiful illustrations so that you can see what your finished recipe should look like and get some great ideas on how to garnish it.
Cook’s Illustrated Magazine
Cook’s Illustrated Magazine is famous for its step-by-step illustrations that are a great help to beginners. The magazine also offers advice about cookware products and tips on saving money. The recipes all come with variations as well so that you can experiment and expand your culinary skills. The magazine offers a free trial issue at http://www.cooksillustrated.com/magazine/.
No matter how much you may dread the kitchen, we all have to eat. Being able to cook your own meals at home is incredibly less expensive and much healthier than eating out. There is also a definite amount of pride and satisfaction you feel when you cook a meal and someone says, “That was absolutely delicious.” Check out one, or more, of these resources and you will be whipping up wonderful meals in no time.
About the Author: Thaddeus Kimmes isn’t the best cook in the world but is looking forward to his cooking lesson New York during his travels this summer!
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