Learning How To Cook Thru Trial and Error

I am much the same way. I learned mostly through trial and error. I love to cook. I will generally try to 'create' something by combining tastes that should work well together. If at first I don't succeed, I am at least able to salvage something that is at least edible. The second time around, I can generally get the result that I was after in the first place because I can identify how I screwed it up the first time. I do like to peruse recipes, though, to get some ideas.

My parents love to cook. When I was a child, I use to meddle with them in the kitchen. They just let me do things like chopping vegetables and cleaning the kitchen area. Then when I was already a teen, they let me cook simple foods and the rest is history. I also enjoy watching cooking shows to get some tips from the expert. I am not really an expert cook but I can say those foods I cooked are always appreciated and its a motivating factor for me.

I learned how to cook at an early age, around 11 years old. Our family had no maids or yayas. My parents wer working and most of the time we feed ourselves when we were growing. I started cooking rice, then egg, until I started with simple dishes. My mother was my tutor and Iwas always there to observe when she cooked. When I was in my college days, I already cooked foods for special occassion and loved baking too.

its really nice that you cook so well and i just remembered my mom, even my mom is really a good cook. it is not only me telling this and all my family and relatives tell this and even i think sometimes why my mom cant start up a catering service. i wasnt knowing cooking and after my wedding i have to start cooking and hence i learned. i learned cooking from my mom, i use to write the details and then try it out. at first i wasnt doing so well and then i started analysing the mistakes and now i myself do and try more dishes and i do it better than before but not like my mom. it is really we learn more from our mistakes.

trial and error rules!! have a nice day!!

yes! You are right about that in trial and Error.. you will lear from your mistakes..i learned how to cook by dial pizza or chinese food with in my area!!! rock on!!

I learned the same way, trial and error. I also do a lot of adapting other recipes to fit my needs. With a family of six to feed I'm not real big on presentation, but taste is very important.

I learnt cooking through trial and error as well. But more so learned it through my husband's encouragement and good words he spoke to me. Criticism was never from him but only gentle words and encouragement even when I make mistake like need to put more salt or less salt in the cooking or need to add some ingredients more or decrease it. I really learn this from him that encouragement given will take one person a long way. And I am glad for that. I am also glad for you that your family encourages you too though at times mistake was made. But chance was given. I just can't stand those who complain and criticize it just makes me nervous and at the edge of my chair and I am glad my husband is not like that if not it would be very hard to cook for him.

I grew up on a farm and my mother taught me the basics. She was very high on vegetables and required two vegetables at every supper meal. She always required a green vegetable and then a yellow, orange or red vegetable. A salad was always a good choice. She would not allow frying of any type for health reasons. When I went out on my own, I used the "Betty Crocker Cookbook." It is a good basic book that gets you started in new areas you haven't tried before like maybe simple cookies, hard boiled eggs, etc. As time has gone on, I have collected cookbooks and have a few favorites. Experimenting for me does not work so well because I don't think a have a good sense for what goes together. For some reason, I can read a recipe and figure out if it is good before I cook it.

i learned how to cook my favorite carbonara through trial and error and a little reading which led to: ramen boiled for 3 minutes, 2 tbsps. cream cheese and slices of spam. i also learned that there are many versions of spaghetti with different sauces straight from a can.