The First Time

Do you remember your first time? Was it awkward and a bit uncomfortable? 

I remember feeling a bit uncertain and embarrassed. I didn't know where to begin? It hurt a little, I got burned. I was sweaty and thirsty. I remember thinking, 'should I measure the flour or break the eggs?'

Wait. What? What did you think I was talking about? Something else Dear Readers? You are my kind of Reader! Nope. I'm not talking about THAT first time. I am talking about the first time I ever cooked! Jeez! But, since I have your attention, lets talk about first times... My goodness, the lengths to which a blogger has to go gather readers...

The first dish I ever made was Gnocchi with a Brown Butter and Herb Sauce. I made it for Russell, who was, at that time, my boyfriend. Guess what? He hated it! He said it wasn't the taste of the sauce but the texture of the gnocchi. Thanks Honey! I thought with maybe a little bit of "BITE ME" thrown in. 

Fast forward to a conversation I had with a young woman about her lack of cooking skills. She said a friend of hers is 'on a mission' to help her learn to cook. I offered her some (unsolicited) advise as a Professional Private Chef and Cooking Instructor, 'Learn how to use a knife properly.' I said. She said knives were one of the main things that scared her most about cooking. I said I understood her apprehension about knives and recommended a few things to her; get a good knife and take good care of it. Simple enough right! Then I recommended she just get into the kitchen and begin cooking. 

Now, before I get any feedback from you Dear Readers, let me explain myself. 

If a person does not get into their kitchen and begin, they cannot start, right? Right. Thank you.

Now, back to my story...

The young woman looked at me, utterly flabbergasted. How could I calmly tell her to 'start cooking?'  'I don't know where or how to begin.' She said with a chuckle. Ok, I thought. 'What is your favorite food or meal?' I asked. She said 'She didn't have a favorite.' Man this kid was tough I thought! 'How about, what is the dish your mother always makes for you when you go home to visit?' She said, 'Orange Chicken.' I said, 'Learn to make that dish.' 

I believe "doing" in a kitchen is "functional exercise." Skills cannot be acquired if they are never employed right? How can anyone gather skills if they never do? They cannot. It's that simple.

Get into your kitchen and do. Get into your kitchen and try something new. Get into your kitchen and create, anything. No one is judging or watching you.  

My favorite thing about cooking is that it is a form of giving. I cook from my heart and pour my love into the food I share with my family. Cooking makes me happy. Period. 

Share your first time experience in the comments section. (I mean your first time cooking experience.) How did it go? Who was it for and did they enjoy it?

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