So You Want to Learn How to Cook

So you have finally decided to learn how to cook, or you know someone that wants to learn. Although everyone says that cooking is so easy once you know the basics, the basics can still be frustrating.

Every one has to start somewhere, so start easy. Go to your local book store or library and find a kids cookbook. Read through them and make sure that they have recipes that look good and go for it.

The books are very simple and should not confuse you with terms that you don't understand when you are beginning.

I have been cooking for years and I still go back to my basic cookbooks for recipes and ideas. I also live on cooking shows. One of my favorites is :Good Eats" (if you don't have cable, you can rent or buy the episodes on dvd) The show is great for teaching the basics and how foods work together.

Diet Dilemma

You have been dieting for a while and you are used to measuring your food. Have you ever thought about measuring your drinks also?

Glasses come in all shapes and sizes. What you think may be an 8 ounce glass, may actually be 10-12 ounces. Those extra few ounces can add up over time.

Measure each glass and make a note as to which glass is which size to make sure that you are getting the proper amount.

Curious Calories

You hear the word Calorie used all the time these days. Food commercials, packaging, everywhere you look. You know that there is a certain amount that you should eat each day, but when looking at foods it is hard to tell if it is an ingredient or what.

A Calorie is actually a measure of energy. When the term was created the base of one calorie was established as the amount of energy that an approximately 150 pound person burns each minute while sleeping.

It really doesn't matter what you eat or how you eat it. If the food says that it has 80 calories, whether it be Meat, Vegetables, Candy, Bread it is still just 80 calories.

Eating the calories is not what causes weight gain. It is eating too many and burning too few that will cause weight gain.

Vinegar Usage IV

Vinegar is the unsung hero of the kitchen. It has plenty of uses besides just cooking.

When baking bread you can brush a little vinegar on the top just before baking and it will help keep the crust a bit softer.

If you have problems with hard water buildup on your chrome fixtures, just soak a paper towel in vinegar and place it on the affected area. After about 5 or 10 minutes, rub vigorously to remove the stain.

If you are preparing fish and you find that your hands smell more like fish than your dinner, rinse them with vinegar and then wash. This will also work with other strong odors like onions.