There's no question that both my cooking skills and my confidence in the kitchen have come a long way since this time last year. To be truthful, I had about negative confidence when it came to cooking, and felt ok about baking - but uncertain. Now, thanks in large part to the fact that no one has to know if and when I mess things up terribly, I am starting to actually enjoy it a little bit.
Things that have helped me immensely are: a good, new knife (and truly, good quality tools in general), the How to Cook Everything cookbook by Mark Bittman (it's just amazingly useful for pretty much anything you'd want to make, technique, times, improv, etc.), and the right mindset. That last one was the hardest thing to overcome and I know I have a ways to go yet. But it's amazing how much better I feel about cooking when I relax, don't worry about making a mess, bring in some tunes or NPR or podcasts, and think carefully about what I'm doing, what's happening on the stove, and what adjustments I can make as I go.
And at the end of it all, I've hopefully got myself a decent homecooked meal, enough leftovers for lunches that week, and little bit better sense of self esteem. I'm still struggling to regain that after dealing with the ultimate rejection last year. I know I've got a long way to go, but I also know that I'm getting better.
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