Cara Johnson - Content Writer

Do you see cooking as a chore?
Do you find it difficult to come up with new ideas for your next meal? Do you feel like you’ve exhausted all the tricks in the book when it comes to home cooking? If so, don’t worry. You aren’t alone – there are plenty of people out there who share your struggles when it comes to cooking! But that doesn’t mean that you need to resign yourself to eating take-out or pre-made meals forever. With some practice and advice from the right people, we’re sure that you can get back into the swing of things with ease. Here are some expert tips on how you can trick up your game and start cooking like a pro again!

Practice, Practice, Practice!
The best way to get good at anything is to practice. This is definitely true when it comes to cooking. The more often you cook, the more comfortable you’ll become with the process. You’ll start to build your own recipes, learn what works and what doesn’t, and figure out what you need to do differently next time. If you haven’t cooked in a while, it can be easy to forget the tricks of the trade that make cooking so much easier. And the only way to get those skills back is to start cooking again! So, if you haven’t cooked in a while, make sure to stock up on ingredients that are easy to make. Try to avoid recipes that require lots of special gear or ingredients that are hard to find. Instead, focus on simple dishes that can help you get back into the rhythm of cooking again!

Plan Ahead
Cooking ahead of time is one of the best ways to save time and get meals on the table easier. It’s also a great way to make sure that you’re always stocked up on portable snacks and meals that can be eaten on the go. This can be especially helpful if you have a busy lifestyle that leaves you with little time to cook. To plan ahead, you’ll first want to figure out what meals you’ll be eating over the next few days. You can do this by making a list of the people that you’ll be feeding (including yourself!), along with any special dietary needs. After that, you can use that list to come up with a few different meals that you can make on the weekend. This will help you avoid last-minute cooking and save you time each week. It can also be a great way to use up any produce or ingredients you have on hand that might be going bad soon.

Invest In Good Knives And Equipment
Many people mistakenly believe that fancy cooking equipment and knives are what makes a great chef. While they certainly don’t hurt, they aren’t the sole source of skill that makes a chef so good. However, they are definitely important. After all, you can’t do much in the kitchen without a good set of knives and other tools to help you out. Even something as simple as a cutting board can make a big difference. There are tons of different types of knives and kitchen tools you can use when cooking. The only real questions are which ones you should get and how much you should spend on each of them. To answer these questions, you’ll want to first figure out what your main goals in the kitchen are. Are you mostly chopping vegetables? Or are you looking to slice meat, fish, and other proteins? Do you need to break down large pieces of produce or herbs? Once you know what you’ll primarily be doing, you can pick the right knife or tool for the job. From there, you can decide how much you want to spend. You don’t have to go all out and buy the most expensive knife set or kitchen tools you can find. Still, investing in a few good pieces will make a big difference in your cooking!

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Learn A Few Dishes detailed on SoCalGrillin'
Depending on your situation, there may be certain dishes that you cook over and over again. This is perfectly natural and something that almost everyone does when they first start cooking. However, the more skills you have in your cooking repertoire, the more variety you can add to your meals! This will not only make things more fun, but it can also help you avoid getting burned out on the same meals over and over again. Plus, once you know how to make a few different dishes, it’s a lot easier to turn those into meals for your family or friends! So, when you are trying to learn new recipes, make sure to pick ones that are simple to start out with. You don’t want to try to tackle a complicated dish while you’re still getting your feet wet! Instead, focus on simple dishes that have just a few steps. This will make it easier to follow along and pick up the techniques you need to know.

Don’t Be Afraid To Get Creative!
One of the best things about cooking is that it’s an art form. You can be as creative in the kitchen as you want to be. This means that there aren’t any hard and fast rules that you need to follow. You can use ingredients in new ways, experiment with spices and flavors, and try new cooking methods. There is no reason to get stuck in a rut just because other people have their own set of rules and guidelines for cooking. Cooking is an art form, which means that there are no wrong answers. If something tastes good to you and your guests, then you’ve succeeded as a chef! So, don’t be afraid to get creative in the kitchen. Try new combinations of ingredients, experiment with new cooking methods, and find out what works best for you and your cooking style! These expert tips are sure to help you get back into the swing of things again. Once you start cooking again, you’ll be surprised at how much you start to remember and pick up new skills along the way! Be sure to watch SoCal Grillin' every Thursday night at 8pm CST / 6pm PST on the SoCalTelevision Roku channel, SoCalTelevision Amazon Fire TV channel, on the SoCalTelevision app and on the SoCalTelevision.com website and sign up as a SoCalTelevision.com member to receive exclusive discounts at locations throughout Southern California and more! Share this with 3 friends on Twitter and tag @SoCalTelevision to be entered to WIN a $50 VISA eGift Card!

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