It's no surprise that I love to cook, and have been developing recipes for years; But there was a time when cooking was new and intimidating to me just as much as it is to any other beginner! The good news is, if you are new to cooking, it can become something you truly enjoy, and even feel confident about! Here are a few tips I found helpful when I first got started in the kitchen.

1. The first tip to getting started successfully in the kitchen is to plan your menu and grocery list ahead of time. The good news is, if you are a member of Dashing Dish, you have access to an easy to use grocery list and meal plan builder! Planning your meals for the week will ensure you have the ingredients on hand to prepare your recipes, and planning ahead always ensures a successful start!
2. The second tip I have is to read the entire recipe before you start your cooking. This will give you a big picture view of the recipe, and give you an idea of the entire process from start to finish. It will also give you a heads up if you need to do something before hand, such as marinate the meat, warm or melt an ingredient, or have special tools handy.
3. The third tip I have is to approach cooking in a calm and patient matter. Low and slow is the name of the game when you are a beginner, which ensures the food is being cooked all the way through without burning the exterior and undercooking the center. If you are in a huge rush, opt for a quicker recipe that doesn’t require much time. Practice makes perfect, and practice requires patience!
4. The fourth tip I have for beginners is to always follow a recipe precisely. When it comes to cooking it can be fun to mix things up and put your own spin on a dish, but it takes time to learn what can be swapped in a recipe and have it still turn out. Once you become more experienced in the kitchen, you can try adding your own spin on a dish, but it's best for beginners to stick to the recipe until you feel more comfortable in the kitchen.
5. The last tip I have for rounding out your cooking experience is to taste your food before you add your seasonings. Adding a little salt and pepper, along with other seasonings, is a fantastic way to take your meal from bland to exciting. What most people don’t realize is that many ingredients have added salt and spices, which can end up being too much if you add some in addition. When learning your way through the kitchen, remember that seasonings can be added, but can’t be removed, so start minimally, and adjust at the end according to your preferred taste.

I hope these tips help you feel more comfortable and confident getting started in the kitchen! xo Katie