food and drink books
The decision to learn how to cook and plan meals and menus can be intimidating. There are so many dishes and there is so much to know. Also, Food Writers makes it sound very difficult. The important thing is not to feel overwhelmed. Focus on one cooking category at a time. You can master specific dishes and build your confidence. At the beginning of your cooking studies, you will have many questions about food, cooking and health in general. You can check out vintage cookbooks, Bestsellers, family, friends, and of course the Internet resources available to you.
or Is taste more important than health problems?
o Should organic foods be purchased, even if they cost more?
o What foods will please a whole family?
o Do I need to take a class or can I learn by trial and error?
or Is there a career for me in the culinary arts?
o How can seafood be prepared safely?
The Fundamentals of Cooking: Kitchen Knowledge and Equipment
Before you even start learning to cook, you’ll need to make sure your kitchen is properly equipped. Once you have basic cooking equipment, you can start collecting cookbooks that will increase your cooking knowledge. Over time, you’ll want to build up a large collection of reference and gastronomy cookbooks and restaurant cookbooks. Food and travel writing books are great reads. There are even cookbooks available that focus on a specific piece of kitchen equipment. When you buy a cookbook as specific as Sara Lewis’s Slow Cooker (Pyramid Paperbacks), you can be sure to get the most out of your kitchen appliance. Unused kitchen equipment in the back of the cabinet is just a waste of space.
o What are the basic kitchen utensils needed to prepare most meals?
o If you’re just starting out and trying to save money, what tools can you stop buying?
or Are fancy blenders and mixers really necessary?
bake delicious treats
Few things are more delicious than a loaf of bread fresh from the oven. The smell of freshly baked bread will make your whole family walk into the kitchen with their mouths open. Making bread is not difficult. There is some work involved, to be sure, but if you follow the instructions and tips carefully, you can certainly do it. Once you’ve mastered some basic cooking skills, nothing will stop you in the kitchen. Of course, you will need a basic manual to help you. Rachel Allen’s Bake is an excellent text that can help you master some baking skills. Rachel Allen has great cupcake recipes, esp. Baking is an almost entirely separate science from cooking and will raise its own questions.
o How are baking and cooking different?
o Can I make substitutions in a recipe?
o Why do I need to mix the wet and dry ingredients separately?
o What is the difference between cake flour, all-purpose flour, and bread flour?
Baking can be challenging, but the treats you’ll learn to bake are well worth it.
Barbecue: the perfect foods for entertaining and special occasions
If you love to entertain, you should make mastering barbecue recipes a priority. Everyone loves a backyard party in the summer. A plate of ribs, a few drinks and beverages, and a warm summer afternoon are great memories. You will need some special equipment to grill successfully. A grill is definitely a must and a smoker is wonderful for imparting flavor to your cuts of meat. You’ll also want a set of basic grilling tools, such as a grilling spatula, brush, and straps. For a full list of grilling tools, check out Weber’s Way to Grill: The Step-By-Step Guide to Expert Grilling (Sunset Books) by Jamie Purviance. This cookbook is sponsored by a grill company that has been around for generations. It will certainly help answer your general grilling questions such as:
or Are cheap grills suitable for informal barbecues?
o How do I control the temperature on a grill?
o What foods grill well?
o Are there desserts and puddings that can be grilled?
Books aren’t the only place to get answers about barbecues or cooking in general. Ask your friends and neighbors for their advice as well. One of the best things about cooking is that it brings people together. The barbecue specifically attracts people of both genders. Even people who don’t personally grill have favorite dishes they’d love to share with you. Grilling can bring an entire neighborhood together for food and entertainment.
How to make quick and easy meals for you and your family
Cooking every night when you get home from work can be exhausting. Eating out every night, however, is expensive and unhealthy. What you need to master then are quick, healthy meals that you can whip up on a weekend night. Ainsley Harriott’s Low Fat Meals in Minutes by Ainsley Harriott are a great combination of quick and healthy food. Diets and healthy eating do not have to absorb all your free time. You can also learn how to quickly prepare healthy baby food. The 100 Best Baby Purees: 100 Quick and Easy Foods for a Happy, Healthy Baby.
Annabel Karmel is an excellent baby food primer for new parents. Once you’ve mastered some basic cooking techniques, like blanching and steaming vegetables, you’ll be able to make healthy purees for your baby while cooking for yourself and the rest of your family. Healthy cooking, especially Healthy Cooking for Babies and Children, raises many questions.
o Does preventing a baby from a diverse variety of foods prevent him from being a picky eater?
o What are the easy and healthy foods that I can give to a baby?
o Can I afford the fresh fruits and vegetables needed to be healthy?
o Are there healthy lunch options to take to work?
o Do vegetarian and vegan meals take longer?
Cooking as a way to enjoy life more fully
Cooking is more than a way to fill the belly. It is a way to enhance your enjoyment of life. The basics of cooking are really just the beginning. Soon you will be on your way to national and international cuisine, wine and winemaking, and a world of culinary delights.