G'day Mindsweeper, Thank you for your question. I would suggest doing a course at a technical college or adult education facility. You might also want to look around for a basic recipe book. You should start off making relatively simple meals. You might also have a family member or friend who might be prepared to give you some pointers. Regards

The first thing to do is to closely observe someone you know is a good cook.

A course is a good idea. I'd also recommend that you get "The Joy of Cooking." Not only does it have recipes, but it gives the details about how to choose fruits, vegetables, and meats. It also gives you all the basics. It's a great reference book for any cook beginner to chef.

They have tons of books for kitchen starters and some nice cooking shows on TV, one of my favorites is a program on the food channel called "Good Eats" start out with simple items like omelets, brownie or veggies the slowly progress...It's more fun to try to be creative in adding things you like that will fit but stick to the basic of the recipe

There are quite a few things you can do. Read cookbooks and experiment with the ingredients. Watch cooking shows. Buy some CD's from Ohio Distinctive software. They have some excellent cooking CD's for all types of cuisine. http://tinyurl.com/yufc22 Read about herbs and spices. Fresh herbs and spices make the difference in the burst of flavor your food has. Read about basic techniques. Here's a link: http://tinyurl.com/ysc27c And there are many more sites just like this one online. And like they say, if you don't succeed, try again.

No offense, but there is a book at Books A Million, called "Cooking for Dummies". Well, you have to start somewhere.

First learn the terminology. You can probably call up a list on your computer. Keep the list handy & follow the recipes. Read the whole recipe & gather the ingredients before starting.

I taught myself to cook when I was a teenager by joining a cookbook club! :) Here is an article I wrote about cooking with some links to quick and easy recipes: Advice On Being A Good Cook http://advice.com/article/2009/10/10/Advice+on+Being+A+Good+Cook I hope it is helpful to you! :)

You can cook the easy cuisine at the beginning. Now I'd like to teach you to cook the Dan Dan Noodles. It is a classical Sichuan dish. Sauce: 3 tablespoons sesame paste or peanut butter 1 1/2 tablespoons Asian sesame oil 3 tablespoons black rice vinegar 2 tablespoons light soy sauce 1 1/2 tablespoons dark soy sauce 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 – 1 1/2 teaspoons roasted Szechuan peppercorn* 3 teaspoons hot chili oil** 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, optional 1/4 cup chicken broth • Other: 12 ounces dried Chinese noodles or pasta • Garnish: 1/3 cup chopped roasted peanuts, or as needed 4 spring onions (green onions) finely chopped Step 1. Combine the Sauce Ingredients In a small mixing bowl, add the sauce ingredients, starting with the sesame paste or peanut butter, sesame oil and black rice vinegar, whisking to mix together. Continue whisking as you add in the remaining ingredients. Step 2. Prepare the Garnish Chop the roast peanuts (you can use a food processor or do it the old fashioned way with a mortar and pestle). Finely chop the spring onions.Other possible garnishes are toasted sesame seeds, which will enhance the nutty flavor of the dish. You can also leave the roasted Szechuan peppercorn out of the sauce and serve as a condiment or sprinkle over the noodles. Step 3.Cook the Noodles Cook the dried noodles according to the package directions. Drain in a colander. (Do not rinse unless the package directions say to do so). Step 4.Sauce the Noodles Place the noodles in a large (preferably warm) bowl. Whisk the sauce again and then stir it into the noodles. Step 5.Serve the Dan Dan Noodles Dish the noodles into individual bowls and garnish with the chopped spring onion and peanuts. Note 1.Szechuan peppercorn adds a sharp bite to the sauce. How much to use comes down to personal preference. If you’re unsure, start with 1/2 teaspoon and do a taste test. You can also leave it out of the sauce altogether and serve on the side as a condiment, allowing everyone to help themselves. 2.To turn this into a vegetarian main dish, add an assortment of raw vegetables, such as mung bean sprouts and sliced carrot. Maybe you can try, it is easy. If you want to learn more cooking recipes. This website is helpful for you http://www.foreignercn.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=41&Itemid=68