I'm really confused how in your post you said how you cook at least 4 out of 7 nights. If I cook only 3 nights does that mean I don't cook at all?
My thoughts on cooking: 1. Cooking is partially ratios and partially flying by the seat of your pants. Try this book sometime for ratios: Ratio by Michael Ruhlman. The seat of the pants part is only limited by your imagination and palate. 2. Recipes - follow the idea, not necessarily the recipe. If you don't like something in a recipe, change it to something you do. 3. Experiment, experiment, experiment. It's not brain surgery, no one dies. 4. Bobby Flay is a jackass, Alton Brown has 10 times more food knowledge. 5. Spices are your friend. Grab a new one every time you hit the store and soon you will have a nice collection. Buy whole spices if you can and use a spice grinder/coffee grinder. 6. Did I mention Bobby Flay is a jackass?
Seconded. Especially to people interested in making things like bread and pasta by scratch. And spend the $20 and buy a kitchen scale! Also, in terms of learning how to cook or taking it to the next level, you can't do much better than La Technique by Jacques Pepin
