Eleven Steps to Cooking Without Your Momma
For me, moving away from home at 17 was daunting. I was now responsible for my own shopping, laundry, cleaning, and cooking. Cooking was especially frightening. I had always hated it, no matter how often my Momma tried to teach me. When I left for University, it was all up to me. Lucky for me, I had my Momma's guidance and had seemed to inherit her natural ability in the kitchen.
Let's face it - we're not all so lucky! So for all of the young independents out there who need some cooking guidance, I've put together the Eleven Steps to Cooking Without Your Momma, in the hopes that a few of you might learn some great tips my Momma taught me.
Eleven Steps to Cooking Without Your Momma
Know Where to Shop. Compare your local grocers for quality and price. I tend to avoid 24/7 grocers. Their prices are often a little higher due to the added convenience. My personal favourite is FRESHco.
Make A Grocery List. Trust me, this is important. Too many times I have gone to the store for groceries and came back with a few microwave dinners or some chips. Go for versatile foods that can be mixed and matched.
Shop Smart. Look for ways to save yourself some money. Flip through grocery store flyers and look for sales. Try to work your shopping trip around a few stores to take advantage of the most deals. Avoid brand names. They cost more than no name brands and you probably wont taste the difference anyways.
Build Your Pantry. Start collecting! Spices can be expensive so I suggest grabbing one new spice each shopping trip. Stock up on non-perishable food like tuna, soup, cereal, pasta, and rice. This stuff will go a long way when you've run out of everything else.
Learn the Basics. If nothing else, check out some basic cooking guides to teach you some of the fundamental techniques. Try this Technique Guide from Reluctant Gourmet. If you run across something you're not sure of in a recipe, you can always trust a "How To" search. Learning how to cook food properly will help you enjoy the experience and most importantly, the food!
Make Time to Eat. It's not always easy to set time aside to cook and eat a meal, but it's important. Setting regular eating times will help get you into a routine and is also healthier than skipping some meals and feasting on others.
Hunt for Recipes. I'm sure you already have a sense of what you like to eat, so do some searches for recipes that include your favourite foods. Start building a collection of recipes you'd like to try.
Try Your Recipes! I was an awful cook when I first started. Don't get discouraged, just keep trying. Not everyone loves to cook but I believe everyone CAN cook. So as Momma says, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!"
Get Creative. Don't be afraid to change up recipes and try new things. You may just have a creative flair for cooking that has been hiding out all these years.
Share Your Food. I find I get the most reward out of cooking when I see others enjoying my meals. So invite your roommates to join you, cook together with friends, and even cook for your Momma! There's nothing better than enjoying a great meal in great company. So get over your stage fright!
HAVE FUN! Enjoy yourself in the kitchen. My Momma always said she sprinkled a "dash of love" into every meal. As silly as it seems, I think I could taste the love in her meals. So be happy, and have fun as you cook. Start developing your own habits and traditions in the kitchen. In my family, cake fights are a right of passage on birthdays, and turkey dinners are a collaborative effort. Find out what you enjoy and run with it.
