Teaching Cooking

I just wanted to write a little more on why I have this blog. I love cooking and would like to change a few minds about cooking. I already have a ton of things running thru my head of what I want to teach.

I would love to be able to teach someone how to tell when cookies or a cake is done by the smell of it, be able to make a pot of rice without having to measuring anything, or know an amount of food simply by looking at it.

Basically teach them confidence in what they do, so no matter what they will always be successful. I believe that is the main reason why so many people dislike cooking, they lack the confidence to do it well. I have also come up with 3 other reasons why ppl don't like to cook.

1) Time issues:
In our society everything has to be fast, even the food. And I am sorry but GOOD food can NOT be rushed. Now with a little preparation ahead of time one can make a good yet quick meal.

2) Negatiave experiences with food:
If the only time someone got to cook was with someone they don't like or prepare something they don't like then they probably won't like cooking. Also having to prepare a meal when you are tired all the time for others or forced to because no one else will can make ppl hate cooking.

3) Someone you know is bad at it:
Particullary the main cook in your household, if you have a bad teacher then you will probably not make good food yourself. This is not always the case but it can affect your ability to do certain things because you were not taught how to do it or how to do it correctly.

These are just a few of the things that I will be teaching when I finally get to that point, my aim as before is to build confidence in and through cooking but also to be able to turn a few minds around about cooking. Well more on this later!

1st Post, Fall Food

Hey all this my first post, I plan to have a site in the future. I have this blog so I can perhaps help ppl with recipes or any food problems they seem to have. Well I'd like to start off with a fall recipe. This one actually comes from my mother-in-laws collection. She makes this every Thanksgiving. My husband loves it and I have been making it every Thanksgiving for the past 8 years of our marriage, he loves it and wants no other sweet potatoes for Turkey day!

Fall Apple Candied Yams

• 4-5 cooked yams
  
• 4 large apples (Granny Smiths or other tart apples)
  
• 1 cup Brown Sugar (you can you dark brown for more of a molasses taste)
  
• 1 cup margarine or butter, melted PLUS 2 Tbs.
  
• 1 1/2 tsp. Salt
  
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
  
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  
• 1/2 cup chopped Walnuts
  

1. Core and peel apples, cut them into moons. In a large saucepan use saute apples with 2 Tbs. margarine or butter until slightly transparent.

2. Cut cooked yams into equal sized moons and alternate with the apples in a greased 13"X9" pan.

3. To 1/2 cup of the melted margarine or butter add brown sugar, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.

4. Pour mixture over the yams and apples.

5. Bake for 20 minutes at 350.

6. With remaining 1/2 cup melted butter pour over yam and apples top with the walnuts and bake an additional 20 minutes.

ENJOY!

Hints:

- If you don't like walnuts you can use whatever nut you like, pecans are very good with this too!

- You can sprinkle on the brown sugar after you add the melted margarine or butter for a nice crust on the yams and apples.


I love this recipe and I hope that you all like it just as much!