Why you [general] should learn how to cook
And by “cook” I mean “have an understanding of how foods come together” rather than “can follow a recipe”.
Following a recipe is great. It’s a brilliant starting point. But what makes cooking great (IMO) is looking at something (on the telly, online) and go “I can make that”.
This morning, the following train of thought occurred to me: “I really wish I had ordered naan last night so I could have it this morning with my leftover Indian food.” “Naan consists of flour and yoghurt baked in a hot pan. I have access to all of these things.” And then I had freshly made naan with my breakfast Indian food. It wasn’t as perfect as it would have been from my local lovely Indian place. But it was pretty good for a first ever try that took me less than 10 minutes. And it made me feel good about myself.
So, your Local Tumblr Elder advice: learn how food works. Watch cooking shows. Read cookbooks (local library has them). Let people from different cultures teach you how their food comes together. It will save you money and turn pantry staples into magic. And naan for breakfast.
