The Lost Art of Cooking At Home

There are some nasty myths about cooking at home out there.  Many of us have a complete aversion to it and some of us are downright afraid of it!   What used to be a way of life is now thought of as overwhelming, time consuming, and expensive.  I know because I was one of you not too long ago.

Then I watched Food, Inc. and over the last two years, I have slowly and painlessly converted to a home cook.  I leaned into the idea at first and with more and more successes, it became easier and is now an extremely satisfying part of my life.  (For the record, my husband cooks, too, being a modern man.  And also for the record, he is a way fancier cook).

The truth is, cooking can be simple, fast, and cheap.  It may take up a little bit more time than, say, the drive-through, but not much more.  And the satisfaction that comes out of routinely preparing your own meals is authentic.

With just a little bit of practice, I learned how to plan meals around basic, inexpensive ingredients.  I learned how to season my food and started to practice some simple techniques.  I realized that in most parts of the world, there is not so much emphasis on variety.  I learned that I don’t have to tear my hair out trying to think of creative meals for a week.  Once I began to focus on seasoning, the other ingredients became much less about guesswork.  If you can season well, you can make anything taste good.  Promise.

I started making larger amounts, freezing some and eating some as leftovers.  I love that my kids see us preparing meals in the kitchen.  I began to really and truly appreciate food for the first time in my life.

My Essential Rules For Cooking At Home

• No more than 6 ingredients.
• Lemon and garlic make almost anything taste good.
• No plain steamed vegetables. (because, ick)
• Lots of rice bowls and pasta bowls.
• Think of salads as a deluxe sandwich without the bread.
• Use real butter and oil.
• Carbs are not evil in moderation.
• No food is labeled as “bad.”
• Make “junk food” at home.

Cooking is good for the belly, the family, the soul, and the pocketbook.  So go ahead!  Hurry up and (slowly) lean in!

Read on for more helpful cooking at home tips.