[bbyBoss]

So i've been wanting to learn how to cook/bake for a long time, and well for personal reasons, I haven't had much time to stand in the kitchen. Not to mention my parents don't really like me making stuff in there cuz they think imma make a big mess {My mom uses the stove almost all the time anyways}

I am a person who would get confused following instructions sometimes, so while you're stuck at a step asking "Now what?" How do you deal with it right?

I just have a question for people who knows how to cook / bake, where did you start ti gather information?

I wanna learn how to make stuff like small cakes, cheesecakes, chocolate, sushi, mostly dessert, I am interested. But..I don't know where to start..you know? :/

Do you think cooking / baking is a "trial and error" thing, or a "follow the recipe and you'll get it right"

Any hints and tips would be GREAT

[hellotiffy]

lol it's mostly trial and error for me. i mean i cook as a means of survival, not enjoyment o__o.

[AngelAngel]

Cooking is very basically, applying heat to the ingredient. All dishes come from basic cooking techniques. Now I don't know them all but the really easy ones are, poach, boil, sear, fry, bake, and braise.

Sear: is just, like, putting it on a hot pan and cooking it. A steak is an example.

Poach: cooking it in a liquid at a simmer (low heat, well it's hard to define but I say when there's only like a small bubble coming at the surface, the liquid looks very calm...). Liquids are cool, if you keep liquid at a certain temperature for ever, it will stay at that temperature!

Boil: cooking it in a liquid at a very very high heat but I rarely boil things except for greens but even then I cook it half way and finish cooking it in something else.

Fry: this is pretty self explanatory, and how many people fries?

Braise: searing it in a pan and then adding a liquid, reduce the temperature and wait till the liquid reduce. This is used for tougher cuts of meat, searing it will give it more complex flavors while adding liquid will allow the meat to cook at a low temperature at a long time and the connective tissue that makes it tough will break.

Bake: well...self-explanatory too

And...just try cooking different things using these techniques? That's how I learned...and from Good Eats.

I actually don't like recipes, because it's like you will learn how to make that one thing but you don't learn anything that you can apply to other things. WATCH GOOD EATS! Alton Brown teaches you how to cook rather than how to cook this one specific thing.

WATCH GOOD EATS! WATCH GOOD EATS! WATCH GOOD EATS! WATCH GOOD EATS! WATCH GOOD EATS! WATCH GOOD EATS! WATCH GOOD EATS! WATCH GOOD EATS! WATCH GOOD EATS! WATCH GOOD EATS! WATCH GOOD EATS! WATCH GOOD EATS! WATCH GOOD EATS! WATCH GOOD EATS! WATCH GOOD EATS! WATCH GOOD EATS! WATCH GOOD EATS! WATCH GOOD EATS! WATCH GOOD EATS! WATCH GOOD EATS! WATCH GOOD EATS! WATCH GOOD EATS!

[Chanellas]

I always explore allrecipes.com for stuff to cook and bake.
If you find something you like, go to the grocery store, pick up the ingredients, and find some time to make it.
It involves trial and error and some patience, but it's a good hands-on experience. practice practice practice. we were all noobs at one point lol
As soon as you got the basics down, you have the proper foundation to 'wing' it and start experimenting on your own with alterations, variations, and improvements. but that's my approach. and if you're stuck... GOOGLE!

hun, if your mom is worried about you making a big mess, just don't make one.
if you do, it's your responsibility to clean it up

[JetGirl]

My mum and dad are amazing chefs so i grew up loving to try different foods.With that mindset, you're kinda set to do anything because with cooking, its just an idea of what it tastes like in your head and you apply it.

I kinda learnt more by living in residence at uni. But my parents always encourage me to cook at home too.
if you're gona bake, do it when they're not cooking like in the afternoon?

[NotFromThisPlanet]

i would see if your parents would allow you to help them in making dishes when they are cooking dishes or meals.
when i was younger my mother would let me stir the bowl when she was making things or help dice veggies.
the important thing to remember is to read the recipe a few times carefully so you know the order of adding or preparing things.
also, make sure to make a list before you go to the store to buy things for a specific recipe.
personally, i think it would be best to start off with cookies, and small cakes. look on the web for some recipes and start making a batch every week.

[akanesan]

definitely helping parents when cooking (you can learn alot!!)
also you can follow instructions, but you have to practice several times to remember the basic steps of how to make something, once you're comfortable then you can add your own flare to the dish

[Chianna]

Until your comfortable stick to the recipe and start with something basic, why not use a childrens' cookbook? It'll cover the basics and be set out step by step. If your mum's the patient sort ask her help if not promise to clean up afterward and keep her out of the kitchen.

[daulism]

my suggestion is to not use the amount of butter the packages says to put in. butter is bad for you and is heavely creamed! use less for a lighter taste