I grew up in West Virginia and I learned to cook the foods common to that area. Then I moved to California where the food choices tend to be a lot different. Some of the recipes I grew up with are definitely not considered edible by many. I had to learn to cook all over again.
Read: I was taught the "pinch and handful" method of cooking. In fact, we had one cookbook that I knew of. I now have a copy of that cookbook but I have quite a few more in my collection.
The first step towards being a better cook is to read cookbooks. Yes, I mean plural. The Joy of Cooking is a great one to start off with because it covers several cuisines and has very informative information about supplies and techniques.
If you find an area you want to specialize in, buy cookbooks that cover that area only. I have quite a few because the culture in California is diverse and because I can find the ingredients for several cuisines fairly easily.
Watch: This is how I first was taught. I watched my mother, grandmother and aunts. Now we have another way of learning. There are many on-line videos that show how to do just about anything you want to learn and that includes cooking. Watching a video can help make your first attempt successful.
Experiment: Try something new. Put a new twist on an old favorite. Get the expensive balsamic vinegar instead of the cheaper kind... it does make a difference. Being a better cook means getting your hands (clothes and kitchen) dirty. By the way, you may want to invest in a few bib style aprons. They help prevent clothing from being stained.
The Emergency Pizza: Not all experiments turn out edible. Believe me, we have been there many times. I am still accused of serving lawn clippings instead of pesto... even though I followed the recipe. It actually tasted like lawn clippings. (It didn't help that I'd also mowed the lawn that day... )
Keep something in the freezer for these occasions. We keep a pizza and usually a few other items for days when the experiments don't turn out. That way we don't end up going hungry because the chef tried something new.
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