Fear of Cooking

If you're afraid of cooking, you're not ready for a dinner party and invited guests - especially if they include your mother-in-law. I still remember the first time I cooked for my mother-in-law - I was terrified! I ended up cooking white rice with vegetables that came in a freezer bag, already cut, spiced, and ready to warm up. A great cook I was not.

Years later I'd approach the task considerably differently. First, I'd use my rice steamer which I love, love, love for an easy dinner. I'd use brown rice since that's what I prefer. I'd use fresh veggies including potatoes and put them in the top part of the steamer. I'd serve a sumptuous dinner this way, quick and easy without the stress.

The stress is the worst part of dinner parties.

What I wanted to say, however, is that if you fear cooking then learn first to cook for yourself. Figure out what you like to eat and become proficient at producing several types of meals for yourself. Once you're wholly satisfied with your ability to cook for yourself, you may be ready to quadruple the recipe and invite some friends over to break bread with you.

I wish I had gone to work in a restaurant (as a cook) thirty years ago. It would have saved me a lot of pain. I finally did get a restaurant job later in life, and that helped me become more comfortable with food and cooking. I had to be trained to do everything - a natural cook I was not! But I managed just fine and learned to love cooking - in the restaurant. That of course carried over into my home life.

Photo: Buy at Allposters.Com