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The Blueprint: Cooking In |
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 Learn to cook a few dishes that are
relatively simple, tasty, and adaptable. Just to be clear,
grabbing bagels, lox, and cream cheese from the 'fridge isn't making a
meal, it's setting up a deli tray. So, where do you get the
recipes? You have a few options:Buy a cookbook, one with simple directions, illustrations, and tons of recipes. If you only buy one, get either How to Cook Everything, The Joy of Cooking, or The Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook.
Alternately, you can use one of the online cooking sites such as Epicurious, the Reluctant Gourmet, or Fine Cooking.
Ask you mother or grandmother for their recipes. If
they make something you love, get the recipe and ask them to show you
how to make it. Not only do you learn a new trick, you make them very
happy, and we like making Momma happy.
If your favorite restaurant makes something you like to eat,
ask them for the recipe. Some will give it to you with no hassle,
others will say no, complete with a screaming, spitting chef and his
bulging veins (he does that to maintain mystique, but don't let it stop
you). Call in between lunch and dinner — after 2 pm and before 5 pm --
when restaurants are slow and politely ask. Corporate restaurants
are more inclined to share their secrets.
The key to cooking is experimentation,
but try it on yourself before subjecting others to your culinary
wizardry. Which brings up another thing: taste everything, constantly.
That way you can fix it before you serve it. Don't be the last one to
find out that your chili tastes like ass. Because we are such
sweethearts, we've supplied you a few or our favorite recipes here to
start off and included some sides and appetizers.
Practice Makes Perfect:
When
David was single, his favorite date dish was Chicken Marsala. He made
it constantly until he got the hang of it. At this time, he wishes to
thank many of his past dates who gamely choked down "dry chunks of
particle board in a brown sauce" while he practiced his craft. Now,
when he offers to cook for his wife, the response is always, "It's not
gonna be Chicken Marsala, is it?" No Honey, it won't. |
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