Are you one of those people that dread cooking? If not great, If yes, read on, this might help. The 3 phrases I hear most from ladies in general, are:

“I can’t cook”

“I hate cooking”

“I have no time or idea what to cook”

I firmly believe that anyone can cook with a little bit of help. Follow these steps and you might be pleasantly surprised.

1.  Keep it simple

Cooking does not need to be complicated to be tasty, good looking or healthy. Choose meals that appeal to you and that are quick and simple to make. A dish that tastes and looks the best has the least of ingredients – just look at pasta or pizza. A splash of olive oil, garlic and chilli is all it’s needed for that pasta to be perfect, and pizza….tomato, cheese and basil…YUM, simple perfection!

2.   Use ingredients/produce you like

Cooking does not need to be complicated to be tasty, good looking or healthy.

Choose ingredients or produce that you like, after all you are cooking for yourself. Remember that recipes are guides only, feel free to substitute ingredients you don’t like with the ones you do. You’d be surprised what you end up with. Or if you don’t want to use the ingredient just don’t – simple. I for example, don’t like coriander, so in dishes that coriander is required I either replace it with parsley or I completely omit it. If you think that the recipe could benefit from an ingredient you like to add, do it. You are the cook, you have the power to make this recipe your own and don’t be afraid to experiment!

3.   Prep, prep, prep

Preparation is the key. Have all the ingredients chopped/sliced and measured out and laid out on your cooking station. That way, you are making sure you are not forgetting anything and secondly, it prevents you getting stressed out that you are not ready for the next step in the recipe. Remember…less stress, great meal!

4.   Taste and check along the way

Taste your food while you’re cooking. This is so important…we all have different tastes and recipes that you are following are written by people that have their own tastes. So as far as seasoning is concerned, taste your food and adjust to your taste. Also remember that we all have different cook tops or ovens. My oven may bake/roast something in 30 minutes, but yours may take 45, so keep on checking on the food, you don’t want it to burn or be undercooked!

5.   Think outside of the box

If you like a recipe, but don’t like some of the ingredients – please see step 2. If you like a recipe but have allergies that you need to cater for – adjust/adapt the recipe to suit. I do this all the time, I look at a recipe and think “oh no…not gluten free” or “too much sugar” but then I start thinking how I can make the same recipe to suit me. We are lucky nowadays that we have access to a variety of ingredients to suit most allergy concerns. Cooking is trial and error, there is no right or wrong – as long as you like it, that is all that matters!

6.   Have fun and enjoy

And last, but not least and I think the most important step of all is for you to enjoy while you are cooking. Make it fun…put on some music, have a glass of wine, involve your kids – you’d be surprised how much kids love cooking. That way you are also teaching your kids where and how the meal they are eating came about. And remember, if the dish did not turn out how you expect…oh well, there’s always the next time.