How To Become A Better Cook
Step ONE To Becoming A Better Cook
I recommend scrolling Instagram endlessly. Hours and HOURS worth of scrolling. Now, this part might not directly make you a better cook. BUT, these younger influencers make everything LOOK SO EASY!! Fancy lighting, fancy editing. Y’all know me, I am editing challenged. I also do not have fancy lighting. I do on the other hand, have 34564 recipes hearted and saved about 23453 recipes. Truthfully, I will probably make 10 of the said saved/hearted recipes.
Step Two To Becoming A Better Cook
The shopping list. Make sure that you purchase ALL of the ingredients for those said 23453 saved recipes. Yes, by the time some of those items go bad you will forget WHAT YOU BOUGHT the items FOR!!! Personally, I have a container of cottage cheese that is well beyond it’s expiration date. BUT, I needed it for a certain recipe that is nowhere to be found. WHY, WHY, WHY don’t I start writing down the recipe, so it’s easier to find? OR EVEN print it out?! WHY!? Why? Because I am NOT that organized.
Step Three To Becoming A Better Cook
Better tools! A better, sharper knife. VERY important. A big, beautiful wooden spoon. That’s a great addition for easy stirring. Next up? A new cutting board. Now, I know y’all are thinking why do you need a new cutting board? This answer is two-fold, it’s prettier than my old scrooched, disgusting cutting board. I mean HELLO!! Remember a few posts back I talked about how beautiful my granite counters were?
Then in the middle of that counter sits an old, disgusting cutting board. I’m absolutely POSITIVE that it has crimped my personal cooking journey. Don’t laugh! Because somewhere between the first thonck of a knife hitting wood and the suspiciously even carrot slices, I became a better cook. You should try it.
It’s very important that you don’t skip the new cutting board step. It’s not a cutting board that’s meant to be leaned against the backsplash looking pretty. (Although, it would do so with authority and distinguished beauty) My new cutting board is solid wood. Stable. Not sliding around the counter like it’s trying to escape its responsibilities. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t chasing my cutting board across the kitchen like a contestant on a low budget cooking show.
Check Out The Head Peanut Trying to Film With Flair!
So, if you want your onions diced, not bullied. Garlic was minced instead of aggressively smashed in a moment of frustration. It all starts with that great knife, hitting that amazing cutting board. My knife skills improved instantly, which tells me the problem was never me. (Y’all know me well enough to know it is NEVER, EVER my fault. For anything. Right? This is where you shake your head in agreement. Thank YOU!)
I am not great with the flimsy cutting boards of my past. My old gross, dented, warped wooden cutting board will never do the job correctly again. I forgive them all, but I will not go back.
All Kidding Aside
There’s also something about having a beautiful cutting board that makes you want to try harder. It looks beautiful in the kitchen, like it’s INTENTIONALLY left out day after day. You still might not read the recipe all the way through before starting BUT, you might consider making a radish rose garnish at the end. Yes, a new cutting board does that. Honest!
A stunning, I mean ABSOLUTELY beautiful, thetchry checkered cutting board made from acacia wood. A juice/crumb groove and handles on the underside, which makes the trip to the sink easy, peasy, pumpkin squeezy.
Ta Da! A Better Cook!
Meals now feel more deliberate. I prep more. I enjoy the process. I clean as I go, which honestly would have shocked my Grandma Jones, who at the end of every recipe card she ever sent me wrote “Okay, Connie Sue, clean up your mess.
Do I still occasionally burn things? Of course. Am I suddenly a chef? Let’s not get carried away I DOUBT you would believe me if I said yes, yes it has. But with this cutting board under my knife, I feel like someone who knows what they’re doing. Or at least someone who looks convincing while chopping onions.
And sometimes, that’s all a better cook really is. Besides, IT’s A BEAUTIFUL cutting board!! Now, go away, I’ve got some chopping to do and a couple steaks to grill!
VERY IMPORTANT STEP!!!!! Keeping Your New Cutting Board BEAUTIFUL!!
Maintenance!!! Don’t forget to take care of your new, beautiful cutting board. Consider this a friendly reminder: Winter weather is dry, so it’s necessary to increase the frequency of oiling your wooden cutting boards to reduce the risk of cracking and warping!
17 Comments
Ed
Thanks for sharing. I am always looking to improve my cooking skills.
Connie: The Head Peanut
You and me both. I tried another video for the post. LOL OHMYGOSH! I have got to buy some editing software. These young whipper-snappers have me beat hands down with video skills.
Shannon Mitchell
I have some pretty good tools. I have several cutting boards, I love this one, the colors are awesome. I have saved a lot of recipes on Pinterest.
l p
having good tools is essential for cooking, baking, and safety. thanks
Connie: The Head Peanut
Absolutely! Pretty ones makes it a joy.
Tamra Phelps
I love Instagram recipes, lol. I have so many saved! Especially the ones that seem super easy! But I need that cutting board! Love the checkerboard pattern.
Connie: The Head Peanut
It’s so pretty! I really need to take a better video. That’s today’s project.
Michele Soyer
All of the tips are amazing – espeically the proper tools but in my opinion love is the most important tip for one to adhere to – if you cook and serve with love you never go wrong…..
Connie: The Head Peanut
That! That right there is the most important.
Rose
That is a nice cutting board, and having a gorgeous mountain setting is a nice way to show it! I have a new cutting board, and have been using a DIY combo for keeping it in good shape. I don’t recall what is was exactly, but does have coconut oil. You put it on there and let it sink in for a few hours then buff it off. It can keep the wood from starting to separate, etc. A sharp knife is incentive to be more creative, and make it fun to do all the prep work. I have hearted and bookmarked so many recipes, but I think the one thing I get out of it, is using the concept. I’ve noticed blog recipes aren’t always as reliable, so I’ve been trying to stick to ones that are authors of cookbooks who have tried their recipes out hundreds of times. And the one thing I am so bad about is forgetting to buy an important ingredient!! The day I was going to make it. Ughhh!
Connie: The Head Peanut
I ordered some mineral oil for my new cutting board (a little blurb on their website recommend it) I do not want to mess up this one, it’s just so darn pretty.
Ahhh Rose you know me if I can show off this view, I will stand in the freezing cold to snap some pictures.
I’m with you on Instagram recipes… I really should stop… and yet… oh ah.. yum.. that looks so good!
heather
Wow that is one beatiful cutting board. These are great tips to keep in mind.
Connie: The Head Peanut
Thank you Heather. It is such a pretty cutting board, it’s so unique.
Suzie B
Like anything in life, practice does make perfect! I have been working on my cooking skills and I can tell you cutting veggies is not my forte – there is very much a technique lol
Shelly Peterson
I think you just made me a better cook! Thanks for the great info. I love your cutting board.
Elizabeth
I’d recommend sharp knives, cookbooks/recipes you trust (every once in a while a flop still slips through), and being able to pivot when necessary (failed fudge? ice cream sauce!)….
Terri Quick
I’m ok at cooking but better at baking