Welcome to Cooking 101

Introduction

Hello and welcome to Cooking 101, where we’re about to embark on a delicious journey that will transform your relationship with food and your kitchen. If you’ve ever felt a pang of anxiety when faced with a raw chicken, or experienced that sinking feeling when a recipe calls for “folding” something (and you’re pretty sure it doesn’t involve origami)—you’re in exactly the right place.

Let’s be honest—most of us weren’t taught how to cook properly. Between quadratic equations and the periodic table, somehow schools forgot to mention how to make a meal that won’t send your dinner guests running for the takeaway menu. It’s a bit like being handed the keys to a restaurant without knowing how to boil water, isn’t it?

But here’s the good news: cooking isn’t rocket science. It’s a set of practical skills that anyone—yes, even you who once set pasta on fire—can master with the right guidance. And that’s exactly what this course offers.

What You’ll Achieve

By the end of these 3 hours together, you’ll have transformed from a kitchen novice to someone who:

Confidently handles basic kitchen tools and knows which one to reach for in different situations
Understands the language of recipes and can follow them without panic
Wields a knife with purpose (and keeps all fingers intact)
Knows the difference between simmering and boiling (hint: they’re not the same)
Creates meals that are not just edible but actually enjoyable
Builds flavors that make your taste buds do a little happy dance
Plans and prepares meals efficiently, saving both time and money
Makes informed decisions about when to cook from scratch and when to take shortcuts

In short, you’ll develop the practical cooking literacy that should have been taught in school but wasn’t—the 80/20 of what really matters for feeding yourself and others with food that brings joy rather than just fills stomachs.

Why This Matters

Perhaps you’re wondering, “Why should I care about cooking? That’s what Deliveroo is for.” Fair question.

Consider this: the average Brit spends between £1,000 and £2,000 annually on takeaways and ready meals. Meanwhile, those who cook at home regularly save about 60% on their food costs. But it’s not just about money.

Cooking skills affect everything—your health, your social life, your confidence, and even your environmental footprint. Mastering these basics isn’t just about avoiding hunger; it’s about creating a more enjoyable, nutritious, and personalized relationship with food.

Imagine: - Opening your fridge and seeing ingredients rather than mysteries - Inviting friends over for dinner without breaking into a cold sweat - Adapting recipes to your taste rather than hoping for the best - Creating meals that align with your health goals and budget - Reducing food waste by knowing how to use what you have - Taking pride in nourishing yourself and others with food made by your own hands

These aren’t pie-in-the-sky dreams (though you will learn to make a decent pie). They’re the realistic outcomes of applying the principles we’ll cover together.

How We’ll Get There

This course is designed differently from the dry, technical cooking guides you might have encountered before. We’ve broken down cooking into digestible, 20-minute lessons focused on practical skills you can implement immediately.

Each lesson tackles one specific aspect of cooking, building on the previous ones to create a comprehensive skill set. We’ll use real-world examples, relatable scenarios, and even the occasional terrible food pun (sorry not sorry) to keep things engaging.

You won’t need a professional kitchen or fancy equipment to benefit—just basic tools, an open mind, and the willingness to make a few mistakes along the way. Because let’s face it, even professional chefs once burned toast.

Your Cooking Journey Starts Now

The chef Julia Child once said, “The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you’ve got to have a what-the-hell attitude.” Your cooking journey begins with that attitude, and I’m chuffed that you’ve chosen to develop it here.

In our next lesson, we’ll dive straight into the foundation of all cooking: understanding your kitchen, essential equipment, and basic safety. Not the boring lecture you might expect, but practical knowledge that will keep your culinary adventures from becoming cautionary tales.

So grab an apron, roll up your sleeves, and let’s begin transforming your relationship with cooking—one practical lesson at a time.

Ready? Let’s get cooking with Lesson 1!