I don't really consider myself much of a cook. Oh, I can cook, and I can make some tasty things, but most of the time, I'd rather watch other people cook.
That's why I had a blast at my local Taste of Home Cooking School. I enjoyed an evening out with good company and learned a few things about cooking quick and easy meals at home.
One of the big things I observed is that so much of what we eat is about marketing. From the packaging right down to the photo of the finished item, we are beseiged by all kinds of messages and branding. It definitely makes you think about your food purchases. (Fresh, local, and organic, anyone?)
I also learned that I have forgotten how to properly measure flour. Yes, it is back to Home Economics class for me! Our lovely Taste of Home Cooking School Demonstrator showed us all that the way I was measuring flour could be ruining my baked goods (not to mention costing me more money!). It turns out that the way you measure flour can result in as much as 25 percent too much flour in a recipe. So now I've learned the proper way to measure flour.
One of the other things I was reminded of at the cooking school is that good cooking doesn't have to take a lot of time or a lot of ingredients. I make a lot of excuses on the nights I grab a convenience meal from the freezer or ask my hubby to bring home a pizza. But the truth is this: if you can read a recipe, then you can cook. And it is so much better for you and your wallet to make something at home.
Have you ever been to a Taste of Home Cooking School? What did you think? Did you learn any new tricks?
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Lessons from the Taste of Home Cooking School
6 comments:
I am SO jealous! I love to cook and would love this sort of class! Sounds like fun!
Haven't been to their classes, unfortunately, but I have a couple of their most excellent cookbooks, and many recipes from their magazines.
I know how to measure flour properly but I've been getting lazier and lazier about it. I really should start doing it the right way again.
--AnnMarie
I was just at the TOH cooking school in Superior, WI last week - is that the one you went to? I, too, was inspired to cook at home more (especially from scratch!). Now I just need to get going on my menu planning to make it all happen!
@ Marybeth - I was in Hibbing - but I bet it was the same demonstator with the same show!
I have been to one and I enjoyed it. I cook nearly all meals for my family, and I use their cookbooks 75% of the time!
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