Domestic Dog

Ed. Note: I apologize for not posting earlier this week. I had injured my hand, and typing was difficult. I should be back on schedule now.

This post was originally going to be a recipe for some homemade veggie burgers that I tried making on Monday. Unfortunately, the recipe didn’t work out quite the way I expected it to.

Actually, the recipe wasn’t bad. The resulting mess did taste quite good, but it didn’t really turn out how I’d hoped when I BBQed it. However, I think if I fry it in a bit of oil, instead of BBQing it, it will probably turn out fine, so I’ll experiment further and post the recipe if it works out.

Experimentation is the Key

I’ll experiment further… The keyword in that sentence is “experiment.” A large part of the reason why bachelors don’t cook is because they’re afraid of taking risks in the kitchen. No one ever taught them how to cook, and they’re afraid of screwing up if they try to cook without having learned from someone else.

Don’t be afraid to experiment in the kitchen.

Aside from a few basics, like frying an egg or baking a cake from a box, no one ever showed me how to cook. My dad did teach me a bit about how to BBQ, but making burgers and flipping steaks was about as advanced as my “formal” kitchen education was. Most of my cooking skills are self-taught.

Trial and Error

How did I learn? I learned through trial and error.

I have never been afraid to experiment in the kitchen. It’s because of this that I discovered, for example, that apples make a good pizza topping (try it, with cheddar instead of mozzarella, and you may be surprised). And it’s because of this that I know my veggie burger recipe doesn’t work well on a grill.

If you want to learn how to cook, don’t be afraid to experiment. Throw an extra ingredient into the next pot of chili you make and see what happens. Try adding a spice you’ve never tried to your rice. Your experiments don’t have to be too outlandish, just don’t be afraid to try and experience new things when you cook.

Sometimes, the results will be disastrous and you’ll end up ordering takeout. But, once you’ve gained a bit of experience in what does and does not work, you’ll start to find that the vast majority of experiments will turn out for the best, and you might even find a new favourite dish.