Cooking is a vast subject. There are so many techniques, so many ways to pair foods to compliment each other, to present beautiful dishes, not to mention maintaining balanced nutrition. Fortunately, the same techniques for cooking a perfect turkey are similar, or the same for cooking a perfect pork roast. And steaming is steaming, whether your using it to cook asparagus, or zucchini.
As was said by others, the best way to learn is to do. And don't assume that because someone posts it, that it's gospel. There are a great many people who cook certain ways, because that's the way their grandmother did it, even if it's not the best technique.
On the other hand, re0-inventing the wheel takes a lifetime, when it comes to cooking. My best advice is to use recipes, and techniques obtained from others as a starting point. Then, make things. Experiment. Take note of what's happening with each thing you try. Your skills, and knowledge base will grow exponentially. Soon, you will be cooking with the best of them, no matter who "them" is. Most importantly, look at cooking as a hobby, something to enjoy. Good food is certainly more pleasant to eat. But the process can be uplifting, and can nurture you as you treat it as a science, and an art.
My favorite aspects of cooking are seeing someone really enjoying things that they didn't think they'd like. I've known people who swear that they dislike and won't eat salmon, for instance. And then I had them over and prepared it in a certain way, and they loved it. I also love it when I get to serve my family their favorites. It makes me feel good to give something good to my family and friends.
You have a desire to learn. So pick out something you want to learn how to make, and ask us how to make it. You might get ten different answers, with each person swearing their version is tried and true. And each of them will be. There is rarely only one way to do anything. Often, it comes down to personal taste. But the techniques will be valid. And you get to pick the one that appeals most to you.
Welcome do DC, a place where everyone wants to be helpful, and everyone is friendly, and like my buddy BuckyTom (BT for short) needs to be taken with a grain of salt, or maybe even two grains of salt
. I know that I often enjoy a little tongue-in-cheek conversation, and have been labeled more than a little whacky, at times. We try not to take ourselves too seriously around here. We leave our ego's behind before we crossing the DC threshold. Have fun, and again, welcome.
Seeeeeeya; Chief Longwind of the North