psst...

1. Read 'The Making of a Cook' by Madeleine Kamman. Then The French Chef Cook Book by Julia Child (2 books). Everything you need to READ is in these three books. :thumbup:

2. Learn to season. Take homemade stock/broth, strain it and place 5 different bowls. Leave the first one PLAIN. Add increasing amts of salt and pepper to the others and note the changes and what tastes good to you. Everything will be affected through a similar profile. ;)

3. Don't take it so serious. It's just food. :p:

Season is one thing I do well. That is of course if you share similar taste buds to me. I'm not a fan of sweet. I never add sugar. I season with 3 things:
1) Salt
2) Garlic
3) Lemon

If you can't make something delicious with those three additives you don't belong in the kitchen.

I can't for the life of me understand people who like sweet foods. I'm not talking about dessert, I'm talking about people who eat things like, ORANGE CHICKEN, etc.

BTW,
The previous post is simply to get you started.

Advanced cuisine is SO involved. These books will get you started and confident. Then you can grow as seems fit.

:rofl: if I didn't know you I'd think you're indian.

Ummmmmmmmmmm, Chicken Tika Masala.... Somosa..... Lamb Vindulu.... Garlic Naan.....

Yummy !!!!

ummm... homework? man, i need firm directions. things like "season to taste" is swahili to me. 350 degrees would mean exactly 350 degrees on a calibrated thermometer. 5 mins means exactly 5 mins. i can't just take a look, smell, or sense its time with food. the family has been watching ratatouille lots and beginning to think gusteau is right about anybody can cook! i will be their greatest challenge!

the only knife skills i got are in martial arts. ask me to attack or disarm, you got it.. ask me to chop onions and you got some chopping block chips with your smashed onions - adds flavor right? ;)

i think i better get the fire dept to come with me... i did nearly burn the house down 4 times as a kid trying to cook eggs, warm up a cinnamon roll, and 2 other things we couldn't recognize after the smoke cleared from the fire extinguisher... and sadly no, i'm not joking although i know you guys are laughing :) the 4 incidences are real and my parents love to tell that story to everyone

Yummm indeed, but those are mostly restaurant type dishes. If you're ever in Chicago, you and your wife are welcome over for some authentic Indian food. :)

That's an invitation that I'm sure to follow up on :)

Hayaku,

It's not nearly as hard as you make it sound... JUST TASTE THE FOOD. Is it bland? Add salt! It is salty? Add water! Is it boring? Add lemon!

And my cooking always starts by lightly heating some garlic cloves in good olive oil.. You can add that to just about anything for improved taste.

- Also remember, don't be intimidated by the word, COOKING. At the most basic level, COOKING is only 3 things:
1) Shopping for good ingredients
2) Cutting
3) Heating

If you buy good quality foods, all you need to do is slice and heat.

:)

Hayaku,

B-line's right. I Rachael Ray can pull it off, then my man,YOU can TOO. You might need to start with the elementary, entry level, basic basics:confused: though.

When it's smoking it's cooking, when it's black it's DONE! :bustingup