Newbie to cooking

Hi everyone :)

I really want to learn how to cook. I'm 17, no prior experience to cooking unless you count popping things in the microwave and occassionaly stirring things for my mom.

Does anyone have any starter tips for me and some easy recipes that I can begin with, preferably with items that I can find at home already?

Thanks! (oh and I'm not sure if this is the right forum)

You've come to the right place.  Tell us what your favorite foods are and what you'd like to cook. 

Here's one to get you started - really easy!

Chicken Mexicana

1 jar of salsa (however hot you like it)
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, about 4 oz each

Dump the jar of salsa into a large skillet that has a lid.  Heat it up over medium heat.  Place the chicken breasts on top of the salsa and spoon some over the top.  Turn the heat down to low.  Put the lid on and let it cook for 10 to 12 minutes.  Check a piece of chicken to see if it's done - take it out and cut it in half.  If there is any pink in the middle, put it back in and cook for 3 to 5 more minutes. 

You can also add corn or beans (or both) to the salsa at the beginning.

Check your local library for some cookbooks.  That way you can try a variety for free :)

Some cookbooks have just the recipes.  There are others that have recipes and food education (like what herbs go well with what meats).  I would suggest getting a couple of both.  Look at the pictures, write down whatever makes your mouth water,  and get busy cooking. :)

1. Watch people cook (youtube, PBS, foodtv) to pick up techniques. Just don't try to chop like a speed demon or make big flames leap out of your pan. Take it slow and easy.

2. Ask people you know for their best family recipe.

3. When you eat something you really like, figure out the ingredients and research the recipe online. When in doubt, take a few recipes and merge them into a single great recipe.

4. Pick just a few dishes to start and make them often. When you get comfortable with a recipe, move to a new one or experiment with altering. (ex. replace chicken and broccoli over linguine with chick peas and spinach over cavatelli...replace parm cheese with feta cheese...) Recipes can be very adaptable.

5. Make cooking as fun as the eating. Get a friend or two and have a cooking contest. See who can make the best soup or chili, then share the recipe. Have a good time with it.

Wow thanks for the replies so far!! This has really got me more excited about cooking.

To be honest, I like everything! LOL! I just don't like mushrooms or olives but thats about it.

clairelaine, do the chicken breast halves needed to be cooked before they are put in the skillet with the salsa?

jennys_fan, "Just don't try to chop like a speed demon or make big flames leap out of your pan" that made me smile :)

For the chicken salsa dish, the chicken will be raw, but make sure it's defrosted (if you bought frozen chicken breasts).  A safe way to defrost chicken is in the refrigerator overnight.  :)

First ....watch food network! Tons of information and its presented in interesting ways. If you like food, its a great thing to watch.

2nd...play around in the kitchen. Great way to learn is by trying. Look up recipes on the internet (there are tonsss of free recipes you can find with a quick google search) or make up your own. Sometimes it wont turn out quite as you want, but its still fun and you can try to figure out how to improve each time.

You sound just like me. i didnt know how to crack an egg until year 9 at school! So embaressing. Now I bake, cook (but still love me my microwave) I liev away from home too
Just keep in mind it will take you a while to get everything good. I get very frustrated when my muffins sink etc. but dont worry, soon people will be coming to you for advice. I browse the cooking sections of the womens magazines at the doctors and just think about the sicence behind cooking.
I do a lot of microwave cooking cos i live in a dorm.
Check out my blog, (see profile) for ideas on creativity. You dont have to cook everything from scratch or from a recipie or even on a stove.

I started real easy. Nachos and stir fries. Then i got mum to show me a few of my favs and dad to show me his french toast. I offreed to cook at BBQs. BBQ cooking isnt hard but it helps you learn how/when to turn things, how to handle stuff in an easy environment

Also start with recipies that only require a little cooking. dont start with rice, veggies and a roast, try just doing rice for your familyone night, then doing a side vegetable dish, that way if things do go wrong (and they do) you can grab teh instant mash potatoes and its not a disaster.

try recipezaar.com - they have a section for beginner cooks

Eeeeee! I'm about to burst from excitement :D I'm seriously really excited to start cooking. Thanks so much for the replies. I'm going to tell my mom about the salsa chicken idea. It sounds like something I could cook easily and enjoy!

Ok, here's another with tomato.  did you know that homemade soup is very easy to make? 

Action Packed Vegetable Soup

Do you understand basic cooking terms, like simmer? 

And you'll need dessert.  This can be made with fresh strawberries too

Cherries in the Snow

This one's easy too, and very healthy

Four Bean Salad

Thanks so much! These are all things I can cook and it's something my whole family would enjoy too :)

Everyone who's said to just start cooking is completely right.
I'm 19 and when I was about 12 I started looking up recipes online and I'd try cooking them. Luckily I had a VERY supportive mom who would politely eat everything I made.

Look for recipes that use few ingredients, ingredients you are familiar with, and don't need fancy things done to them.
A good pan can go a long way, you can make millions of things on the stove top. One pan meals are my favorite, they're usually really easy AND take less cleanup.