Learning to cook can be a daunting task for a southern girl grow’d up on meat n’ taters. Especially with no one around to teach me even the most basic knife skills needed to insure I’d debone the chicken and not my forefinger. When I asked my mother-in-law-to-be to teach me to cook, she snarked, “Can you read?” I responded, “Yes.” “Well then” she said, “you can cook.” Really it is that simple. A genuine love of food, an appreciation for a variety of flavors, the desire to create and please, as well as, just the want to are all that is needed. Fortunately, I’ve always had a keen palate so picking out the spicy flavors of cumin or chiles and the sweet, tangy hint of orange in a roast pork shoulder comes very natural to me. I’ve been told, in my previous life I must’ve been a sommelier, a chef or a combination. *Sigh* However, I just believe I was given a gift and missed the opportunity.

My suggestion for those wanting to learn the art is to scan the various cooking websites or beginners cookbooks for recipes that appeal to you. Generally, you will find ratings  for recipes regarding their level of difficulty. Look