I read somewhere that the two things you should do in life with reckless abandon is love and cook...I would add quilt, my sister would add drive...but to each his own!)

1) Give yourself enough time...

New recipe?  Don't wait till 15 minutes before you want to serve dinner to try it.  Ship off the kids, make yourself a drink, if you're so inclined, RELAX,  then start.

2) If using a recipe for the first time, read it all the way through before you start.  Now if I had taken this advice everytime I used a recipe, I would have had a lot fewer cooking headaches.  And remember,  most people that have some experience cooking just use a recipe as a jumping off point.

3)  Try to use fresh stuff...peppers, onions, mushrooms, garlic...The difference in taste is amazing and it takes a lot less time than that game of hearts on the net that you have to squeeze in before dinner :)  Exception - tomatoes, for a variety of reasons I'm too lazy to list right now. UPDATE - Val is a new convert to FRESH HERBS!!!!  Same stuff applies.....

4) If you've never done any cooking before,  do yourself a favor and buy a good, all-purpose cookbook.  I recommend Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook.  I've been cooking for 20 years and still use it all the time.

Like this?  Hate It?  Either way....

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To Basic Cooking Tips......OR

Life is too short to use dehydrated garlic!