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Thread: Learning to cook...

  1. #21
    Senior Member Ultralight's Avatar
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    The Bittman book, How to Cook Everything, came in last night. I started reading it. It seems very fundamentals-oriented. I am just going to slowly work through it.

    Unfortunately, I think I will need a handful more kitchen utensils. But I will take inventory of what I have and what I need over the weekend.

    My plan is to choose about three recipes from the book and then make them my focus, where I make each one about three times. If they go well, I will move on to another set of three recipes until I start to get a feel for ones I want to make again/consistently.
    But I am playing it by ear too, so we'll see how this turns out.

    I am a little nervous, a bit overwhelmed by the task ahead, and at the same time I am looking forward to this learning process.

  2. #22
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    Ultralight, how did it go?

    Also, what 3 recipes did you choose?

  3. #23
    Senior Member catherine's Avatar
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    Don't be nervous! Even if they don't pan out well (excuse the pun) they'll still be edible. If you have trouble envisioning a specific technique, find a YouTube video, but I think you'll be just fine! What have you got to lose?

    I think it's a good idea to try recipes that sound good to you. Also try to keep the steps to a minimum. Don't do a recipe that asks you to do two or three things at once. Also, do your mise en place: measure out all your ingredients, wash and prep your produce, etc. BEFORE cooking--it will save you a lot of stress!

    Good luck, and bon appetit!
    "Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it--every, every minute?" Emily Webb, Our Town
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  4. #24
    Senior Member beckyliz's Avatar
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    Perhaps there are some "cooking basic skills" videos on Youtube?
    "Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. But accumulate for yourselves treasure in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, your heart is also." Jesus

  5. #25
    Senior Member Ultralight's Avatar
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    I am learning how to stock a pantry--which in my case is rather small, but still includes a fair number of staples. Bittman approaches it with some strategy. So I am using his style to stock my little pantry.

    Next I will get some utensils and equipment (not too terribly much actually).

    Then I will pick my recipes and move on it. The first one will likely be this:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR5a-N9bPZw


  6. #26
    Senior Member Ultralight's Avatar
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    I made the pasta con le sarde. It was quite good. The currants in there really does it!
    I also made my own red sauce, which was easy and surprisingly quite good.

    Pasta is the section I am working on, mostly because the recipes have veggies and sometimes fish in them. I am going to make a Roman pasta dish tomorrow with anchovies in it, and lots of garlic! haha

  7. #27
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    Great job, Ultralight! I looked up the recipe and it looks delicious.

  8. #28
    Senior Member Ultralight's Avatar
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    Anchovies dissolved in olive oil are kind of amazing!

  9. #29
    Senior Member catherine's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ultralight View Post
    Anchovies dissolved in olive oil are kind of amazing!
    Love 'em! Just had some on my salad last night! (And the night before)
    "Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it--every, every minute?" Emily Webb, Our Town
    www.silententry.wordpress.com

  10. #30
    Senior Member Ultralight's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by catherine View Post
    Love 'em! Just had some on my salad last night! (And the night before)
    Ha! Well, that might be taking it too far. A salad?!

    No, they are a yummy little fish, for sure.

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