According to the blogger Monique, every diva should know how to cook.  While I was skimming through YouTube, I came across this Cooking Diva Monique and her video about cooking for beginners.

I am a beginner cooker myself and I found this video(click the link to view video) very helpful.  Actually, I think now I am a little more advanced than a beginner, but you get my point.  I have only started cooking “for real” within the past 9 months.  Since I am a pescaterian (1 year and 4 months now), I only know how to cook seafood and veggie dishes (sorry guys, I missed the meat cooking era).

Monique (www.yesdivascancook.com) emphasizes the point that beginners need to practice, practice, practice.  She suggests that you try very simple dishes at first and build your confidence by letting your friends and family try them out.

Me, myself, am terrified to cook for anyone besides myself.  I guess I should take Monique’s advice and start cooking my best dishes for my friends, just to hear their feedback.  I cringe when a male asks me to cook for them because I really think that I am the only one who likes my food.  I guess that is a personal hurdle that I need to get over.

Okay, back to Monique’s helpful tips for Beginner Cookers.  She suggests 10 tips to ensure that your cooking experience will be GREAT!

Tip #1:  Clean your kitchen before you begin cooking

Tip #2:  Read over the recipe thoroughly before you begin cooking

Tip #3:  Rewrite the recipe so that you can understand it in plain language

Tip #4:  Sit out all of your ingredients and prep food before you begin cooking

Tip #5:  Clean up as you cook (Very much practiced in my personal cooking experience…lol OCD)

Tip #6:  Taste everything as you cook it

Tip #7:  Start with easy and simple recipes (That’s all I use…I hate complicated recipes)

Tip #8:  Follow the recipe exactly, do not try and get creative as a beginner

Tip #9:  Stock kitchen with basic cooking tools like pots/pans, utensils, and pot holders

Tip #10: PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!!!

For more information, please visit Monique’s blog at www.yesdivascancook.com, check out her YouTube video, and follow her on twitter @divascancook.  And remember to cook healthy meals with minimal fat and cholesterol!  Be Healthy and Buy Fresh!

~Diva J

Be Happy. Be Well. Be a Cooker