Cooking 101: Basics For The Home Cook

Being a good household manager includes knowing cooking 101 basics, so you can easily cook for and feed your family. You can get tips, tricks and helpful information here to help you master this critical task.

I am the first to admit that I am not the chief chef in our household. Instead, my husband cooks most dinners, with me as a sous chef and also the person who deals with the dishes, and dirty pots and pans afterward.

It works in our family, and there is no reason anyone has to learn completely gourmet techniques to be a good household manager.

On the other hand, I do fix a lot of breakfasts and lunches in our home, and there are times my husband is not at home for dinner, and someone has to feed the kids! So everyone needs to have some basic knowledge of food preparation and techniques so they don't rely on fast food and other expensive alternatives to home cooked (or prepared) meals.

When you do things you're not comfortable with, it takes longer and your results are not as great. However, with some basic knowledge and practice you can feel competent in the kitchen and turn what can feel like a never ending chore -- preparing the family's food -- into something fun and enjoyable.

Here are the tips I've provided so far:

How To's And Cooking 101 Basics

• How To Cook Bacon In The Oven
• When To Use Salted Or Unsalted Butter for baking, cooking and serving on the dinner table
• How To Separate Egg Whites From Yolks
• Cheddar Cheese Sauce Recipe for the baked macaroni and cheese, along with detailed instructions for making a good cheese sauce

Tips For Choosing Produce & Other Food

• Printable Seasonal Food Calendar Chart - what produce is in season, listed for all four seasons, to help you with meal planning and budgeting
• How To Pick Ripe Melons - Tips for using 4 of your 5 senses to choose the best melon available

Food Safety

• 5 Food Safety Rules In The Kitchen
• How To Defrost Turkey - Safety Tips And Instructions

Finally, if you're interested in meal prep, check out this article I helped contribute to, all about meal prep to simplify your kitchen routine.

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