How Modern Parents Can Learn to Cook and Have Fun Doing It

Cooking at home is not something everyone learns from their parents. Most of us have a few basic recipes that got us through college and the early years, but once you become a parent cooking for a family, it's time to step up your game on both nutrition and recipe variety. Cooking as a modern parent and amateur chef can be a lot of fun if you let it. All you need is the right setup and some easy recipes to start with.

Today, we're diving into the challenge of teaching yourself to cook and having a blast. Don't worry, it's easier than you think.

Set Up Your Workspace

The best place to start is by setting up your workspace. Cooking takes a reasonable amount of space, especially when you're just getting started. You'll want the stove and nearby counters clean and clear before you start laying out pans and mixing bowls. Preheat the oven if you'll be baking or toasting anything. Put the pans you'll be cooking on the stove and get out your ingredients. Make sure there's room for your cutting board and for bowls of chopped ingredients.

Mount a Recipe Device

It's always easier to cook when you're looking at a recipe. But placing your phone or tablet on the counter can be dangerous. Create a safe place to mount your mobile device where it can be seen and interacted with from the stove or counter. A charging cradle on top of the stove or microwave might do the trick, or you might try a magnet mount attached to the wall instead.

Experiment with Core Ingredients

One of the best ways to experiment with cooking inside your budget is to pick a handful of core ingredients, then learn everything you can make with them. There are dozens of different combinations for, say, chicken, beef, broccoli, rice, and other grocery-shopping staples. Build your repertoire of recipes you can cook with the groceries you usually have in your fridge. A collection of spices combined with basic healthy ingredients can turn your normal pantry into a wonderland of possibilities.

Get Inspiration from Your Favorite Restaurants

Not sure what to cook? Why not flip through your favorite restaurant's takeout menu? Menus are a great inspiration for cooking ideas because they remind you of delicious food you might never think to cook at home. If you check out the website or call the restaurant, they might even share their recipe with you to make yourself. And if not, you can always start experimenting with similar recipes you look up on the internet.

 Follow Your Own Chef Instincts

Finally, learn to follow your own chef's instincts. Combine flavors and textures that are good to you. Try adding spices and altering recipes based on your preferences and those of your family. You can learn to cook with your intuition as easily as anyone else. Once you get the gist of how recipes work, you can have tons of fun with delicious kitchen experiments. Look for new ways to cook healthier versions of dishes your kids love. For instance, french fries are much healthier when you cook them in an air fryer because they won’t have excess oil while remaining crispy. Include your kids and the whole family will have a blast inventing new favorite recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.  

Cooking with your family is a wonderful way to save money and bond together. Plus, it's a lot easier than you think. Once you get into cooking, it can be fun, simple, and full of amazing new recipe inspirations. As your kids get older, they'll be increasingly able to help you in the kitchen and even come up with their own recipe ideas. Plus, you’re planting a seed now so they can take the cooking knowledge you share into adulthood. 

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