{"id":7386,"date":"2020-07-15T08:32:19","date_gmt":"2020-07-15T12:32:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/content\/?p=7386"},"modified":"2020-07-15T08:32:19","modified_gmt":"2020-07-15T12:32:19","slug":"time-to-love-to-cook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/2020\/07\/15\/time-to-love-to-cook\/","title":{"rendered":"Time to Love to Cook"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-7393\" src=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/cooking.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"478\" height=\"359\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/cooking.jpeg 406w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/cooking-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 478px) 100vw, 478px\" \/>Do you love to cook? My friends think I love to cook every day and that I&#8217;m always making amazing and complicated meals. Not true! I\u2019m just like everyone else who loves to cook, but maybe not <em>every<\/em> day. My friend Lucy reminded me that not everyone likes to cook\u2026ever.<\/p>\n<p>Whoa! Take a pause. Not like to cook ever? I feel a little sad for those folks and want to rush into their kitchens and give them a hug\u2026and then cook together. But it\u2019s true, there are some people who don\u2019t like to cook. They think it is messy with dishes and pans to clean and takes too much time and effort. They are right&#8230; cooking can get messy and takes planning and effort. I just think anything worth having is worth effort. We all have to eat, right?<\/p>\n<p>I also think there are a lot of people who haven\u2019t had the chance to learn to love cooking. So I wanted to give some tips to help inexperienced cooks further develop their comfort and expertise in the kitchen.<\/p>\n<h2>Easy tips for the beginner chef:<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Begin with a clean kitchen<\/strong><\/span>. It\u2019s your fresh canvas. A clean workspace is calming plus it saves time and promotes cleanliness.<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-7407 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/knife.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"281\" height=\"281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/knife.jpeg 165w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/knife-150x150.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 281px) 100vw, 281px\" \/><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>The right tools make all the difference<\/strong><\/span>. I don\u2019t have expensive tools or fancy cookware but I did invest in a couple of really good knives. Sharp knives are not only helpful but are less dangerous. If you are just starting out, I would suggest buying a good serrated paring knife (the kind with the ridges) and a cook&#8217;s knife. You can do almost anything with these two workhorses. A knife sharpener will come in handy as you spend more time cooking.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Recipes are your friends.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0Just stick to the recipe and the more you cook, the more comfortable you will be adding a little more pepper. Despite all my years of cooking, I still follow my recipe. When I don&#8217;t, I often forget an important ingredient.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Clean as you go<\/strong><\/span>. My first kitchen was super tiny and the only real work space was a large cutting board. There wasn\u2019t room for anything other than what I was working on at the moment. I had to clean the board in order to start the next step. I\u2019ll wash a bowl and the mixing spoons while I wait for the onions to soften in the pan. Make use of your time and space and the cleaning up won\u2019t seem so daunting.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-7390 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/katie-smith-uQs1802D0CQ-unsplash-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"404\" height=\"268\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/katie-smith-uQs1802D0CQ-unsplash-1.jpg 2300w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/katie-smith-uQs1802D0CQ-unsplash-1-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/katie-smith-uQs1802D0CQ-unsplash-1-1024x679.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/katie-smith-uQs1802D0CQ-unsplash-1-768x509.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/katie-smith-uQs1802D0CQ-unsplash-1-1536x1018.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/katie-smith-uQs1802D0CQ-unsplash-1-2048x1357.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 404px) 100vw, 404px\" \/><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Gather all your ingredients<\/strong><\/span>. Ever seen chefs on TV dump their already chopped basil or lemon juice in the bowl? I find if I measure out everything in advance and prep the ingredients like chopping the onion, then the actual cooking part is easier and less stressful.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><b>Start slow and build<\/b><\/span>.\u00a0Get good at a few recipes and then add more periodically. Sometimes I double the servings for the recipe and rewarm the leftovers another night. This is easy to do in my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/plan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">DinnerTime Meal Planner<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Presentation is a nice touch<\/strong><\/span>. As the saying goes <em>we eat with our eyes first<\/em>. My mother was taught to vary the colors on the plate to make the dinner more pleasing to the eye. I know for a fact, my dad would never have handed over a plate of carved turkey at Thanksgiving without adding a piece of parsley. That bit of garnish made the presentation special.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><strong>Gather for dinner<\/strong><\/span>. While sitting in front of the TV is ok sometimes, gathering together at the table allows everyone to appreciate your efforts. Sharing dinnertime together is good for everyone\u2019s health and happiness.\u00a0Even when you eat alone, take a few moments to admire the wonderful dinner you have prepared and appreciate yourself.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7405\" src=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/photo-1565895405140-6b9830a88c19-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/photo-1565895405140-6b9830a88c19-1.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/photo-1565895405140-6b9830a88c19-1-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\">Recipes to love!<\/h3>\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\">Find more delightful and easy recipes in your\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/plan\/recipe-box\/simple\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">DinnerTime Recipe Box<\/a>.<\/h5>\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\">You can search for an ingredient (e.g. eggplant, etc) the name or part of the name of a recipe (lasagna), a cuisine (Italian), type of dish (e.g. soup), an occasion (Thanksgiving, breakfast, tailgating, etc).<\/h5>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><div class=\"col-sm-4\">\n<h5 class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/recipes\/439\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"s1\">Super Simple Salmon<\/span><\/a><\/h5>\n<p class=\"p1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-sm-4\">\n<h5 class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/h5>\n<h5 class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/recipes\/3259\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"s1\">Kale and Farro Stew<\/span><\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-sm-4\">\n<h5 class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/recipes\/1753\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"s1\">Easy Steak Skewers<\/span><\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-sm-4\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/recipes\/439\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7429\" src=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Super_Simple_salmon.thumb_.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"256\" height=\"256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Super_Simple_salmon.thumb_.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Super_Simple_salmon.thumb_-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Make this flavorful fish recipe in less than 15 minutes!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-sm-4\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/recipes\/3259\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7417\" src=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/photo_kale_farro_stew.thumb_.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"256\" height=\"256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/photo_kale_farro_stew.thumb_.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/photo_kale_farro_stew.thumb_-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">A hearty and healthy vegetarian dish. Make extra for leftovers night.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><div class=\"col-sm-4\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dinnertime.com\/recipes\/1753\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7424\" src=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/steak-kebabs-17.thumb_.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"256\" height=\"256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/steak-kebabs-17.thumb_.jpg 256w, https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/steak-kebabs-17.thumb_-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a0Super impressive and super easy!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you love to cook? My friends think I love to cook every day and that I&#8217;m always making amazing and complicated meals. Not true! I\u2019m just like everyone else who loves to cook, but maybe not every day. My&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/2020\/07\/15\/time-to-love-to-cook\/\" class=\"read-more\">Read&nbsp;More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7393,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7386"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7386"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7386\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7393"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7386"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7386"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp2.dinnertime.com\/content\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7386"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}