Make Cooking Easy? Maybe that sounds impossible to you. However, stick with us and we will help you learn to cook easier and better. I 
tacked on that word “better” because I am sure there are those of you who can cook but by learning to cook easier, you will find that your finished dishes are better and most certainly more fun to make.
One of the first things to remember is that no one was born knowing how to cook. Everyone has to learn to cook and no matter how good you are there is always room for improvement. It is really a continual process. Once you get comfortable with one thing, challenge yourself to take the next step to make cooking easy during the next stage.
If you think about it right now, you can certainly name some people who are better cooks than you. I also bet you can name some that are worse. Along the cycle of learning to cook, this will always be true. The best cooks you know have had bad days. They have bad recipes.
What is your reason for learning to cook? There are many. Maybe it is a matter of economics and survival. You have said to yourself that you just can’t face another day of takeout and certainly your wallet may be suggesting the same thing. Some cook because they genuinely like to cook while others cook when bored or when upset. The reason for learning to cook or cooking better really doesn’t matter. It all boils down to beginning with the basics.
The first step necessary to make cooking easy is to understand the terminology. You will almost certainly encounter words that you have no idea what they mean.
A few examples:
Mis en Place — means get it all organized and in place before you start to cook
Al Dente –literally means to the tooth. Used often when referring to pasta. It means there is a slight resistance in the middle when chewed. It does not mean raw but it certainly does not mean mushy either.
Deglaze — After cooking in a skillet, you “deglaze” the pan with liquid. This loosens and dissolves the pan drippings that form during the cooking. This incorporates all the flavor. The liquid is usually broth, wine or some type of marinade.
These are just to give you a sample of what you can expect. We will soon have available a “Learn The Cooking Language” ebook that will be an excellent reference book. However, as we begin this process, you will find explanations and definitions at the bottom of the recipe. This will give you the opportunity to take the recipe and move forward without having to stop and look something up in a book or on the internet.
With that brief explanation about terminology, we turn to the recipe. Our next lesson will focus on recipes and general preparation for the cooking process. Get out your apron and get ready to make cooking easy.