How to Cook Without a Recipe

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Practice

   Start cooking from recipes, eventually you develop your own tastes for what you think would go together well.Check your time available, good cooking takes time.
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   Step 2: practice

   Also, sit down and read some good cookbooks.
   
   Some of the best are the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook, the Pillsbury's Best is great, the New York Times Cookbook by Craig Claiborne.
   
   Another old standard is "The Joy of Cooking" and the food network chefs have all published cookbooks, too.
   
   You'd be surprised how much of a feel for cooking you can get just reading (and trying out) different recipes.
   
   Watch the Food Network on TV and watch their videos on their website (www.foodnetwork.com.) After a while, you know what you like and can experiment, and get a "feel" for what goes well together.
   
   But first you need cooking and baking basics. , Do a little experimenting and season to taste.
   
   Don't be afraid to try.
   
   Some of the best dishes are made by accident. ,,), and make sure you know the basics of cooking.
   
   For example if you know the science behind making a basic sauce, you can do all sorts of things to vary it.
   
   Recipes limit people, chances are if you think something will taste good, it will, or if you think it tastes good, then other people will too! , Breakfast casseroles are always a hit.
   
   Try new herbs
   -n-veggies vs. salts
   -n-such.Start small and before you know it different ingredients will just fit. , Or take a standard recipe and add to it.You will never make something same twice.Probably it gets close, but never the same. , It'll take practice.
   
   Hopefully your critics will be gracious when you mess up, because you will probably mess up a couple of times. , Some great combos are, sweet sauce/spicy seasoning, olive oil seared garlic with lemon zest, and BBQ sauce with brown sugar.
   
   Cooking is so much fun when you can be the creator. , You have to love food! If you love food, you will be the sort who will seek out places to try new tastes and smells, and from there you will learn too.
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   Step 3: practice.

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   Step 4: Start with cooking with recipes.

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   Step 5: Put complimentary ingredients into something it has to taste good.

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   Step 6: Watch your parents

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   Step 7: your grandparents or people who expert in cooking and start by adding a little flavor at a time .You can always add more.

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   Step 8: Try different things

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   Step 9: learn from your mistakes (and successes!

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    Step 10: Think of a casserole

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    Step 11: it's fun to taste the outcome of an experiment.

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    Step 12: Think of foods and flavors you like together and create a combo of those.

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    Step 13: Learn to estimate amounts with your eyeball

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    Step 14: go with what looks good.

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    Step 15: Use your imagination.

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    Step 16: Cook often enough

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    Step 17: you will become really familiar with your ingredients

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    Step 18: what compliments

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    Step 19: what brings out the flavour and what is good to use to counteract some taste or smell.

Detailed Guide

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