Hilah Cooking 'Learn to Cook' ebook giveaway
My friend Hilah is hiiiilah-rious. (Okay, that was pretty bad, I know.) But, it’s true.
She sent me her ebook a few weeks ago when it launched and I immediately fell in love with her style. Hell, we always have a blast when we’re hanging out in person, so it comes as no surprise that her book is friendly, inviting, conversational and downright funny. I asked her if I might share a copy of her book with my readers; I’m so glad she agreed!
Here’s a sampling of some of the parts and things I liked most from this ebook:
- This is perfect for guys or gals who need the 101 version of cooking, but don’t want to be talked to like they’re an idiot. She helps take some of the pressure out of learning to cook, an often stressful time for folks still unsure in their kitchens.
- Great (and true) insights on modern life and cookery, like this: “I read somewhere that one of the top five reasons people don’t cook is because they don’t have a properly equipped kitchen. I think what this really means is that lots of people have been tricked by Crate and Barrel catalogs into thinking that they need a bunch of junk in their kitchen to make it work.”
- Knife sharpening photos and an informative, but not overwhelming how-to!
- A fabulous spices chart that even includes ideas for what you might substitute a particular spice if, say, you can’t find it anywhere and feel stuck.
- A whole section devoted to ‘how to grocery shop’ followed by ever-practical sections on ‘how to cut things up’ conveniently divided into plants and animals categories.
- Workday breakfast ideas and recipes!
- You get special access to videos where Hilah is doing all the things she writes about in the book. Score for these fun, one-on-one tutorials whenever you need ‘em.
- Um, this has nothing to do with Learn to Cook specifically, but her previous book is devoted to breakfast tacos (my FAVOURITE food. Ever.)
- I. could. go. on. (and on…)
She came over before I left for my fall tour and we made fridge pickles together. Check it out!
Enter the giveaway (either for yourself or to win this as a gift for someone) and win a free copy of this ebook by leaving a comment on this post telling us the most game-changing, basic kitchen skill you learned or hope to learn! Entries will close at midnight CST on Thursday, September 29.
Plus, super-cool technology allows entries from anywhere on the globe because this is an ebook and all you need is internet access and an email address. That said, you won’t win if you forget to put your email address in the slot on the comment form that asks for it because I won’t be able to get in touch with you to let you know you won.
Note: This ebook is not for the faint of heart when it comes to vocabulary, i.e. I’m talking about the marginally few people who weren’t keen on light, infrequent cussing in my own book; don’t enter.
Kate
And the winner is…Liz S.
Thanks all for playing!
Reader Comments (60)
I think that when I learn how to bake was a moment of change in my life. Not only because now I can do all sort of amazing cakes and pies that I LOVE to eat, but also because I can please mostly everyone around me and while I am traveling. From adults to kids, who cant resist a chocolate cake with strawberries? :D
My biggest change recently would be learning how to use spices instead of premade spice mixes. Wow! It's so easy and it tastes soooo much better!
I have a stupid little website dave@davereading.com & have my own cookbook. It is for total cooking idiots such as myself where taste and ease of preperation is the number one concern. I would love to have the cookbook so I could learn more & share more with my very small following. YOu and Hilah embarass me though, and I am learning very much from the two of you!
My game changer was making fresh salsas in the blender! Amazing!
I love to read cookbooks and learn from others. That's the beauty
of cooking- it's all about trying something and learning about flavors.
YUM!
I had two biggest game changers in the kitchen. One, was my cast-iron skillet. I use it ALL of the time and it makes such delicious food. My second, was putting sugar, and flour in the freezer for 10 minutes after I bought it at the store. It prevents weevils from getting all in your sugar and flour. In the south, that's important.
I began cooking at a early age, but over the years have developed some bad habits. I need a refresher course in the basics.
The most current game-changer has been cooking and freezing beans- no more store bought beans. And the second would be trying new items for canning- I made lemon curd recently.
Oh my. Another Hilah. My name is spelled Hyla but pronounced the same. Super cool! My biggest game changer was learning to buy in bulk. Saves time and money!
The biggest game changer for me was learning to manage more than one pot/skillet/item at a time. Before, everything I made was a one pot meal, and not trusting myself to manage more than that was limiting what I could cook. After the first time I tried making something with multiple components that had different cooking times and methods (I believe it was vegetarian pad thai), I made a huge mess and jumped over a huge hurdle.
The no knead bread recipe! OMG. I'm a bread making freak now.
I'm hoping to learn how to use herbs appropriately. Currently I'm using them willy-nilly:adding evry herb I can lay hands on in any n evry dish. U can say dat e results weren't superb but no one needed to go to the emergency room. (well not dat I noe of)
How to grocery shop is the biggest skill I am lacking at the moment. I have infrequent pay so I find budgeting to be the most difficult part. I end up just buying whatever and hoping I have something.
Got to give a shout out to Anduin about cutting onions, my problem was when I would do that I would cry like I just got jumped for my pickled okra. As for the game changer...matches; put them in your mouth (red side out (or strike side)) I prefer redheads! They make it so you don't end up shedding a tear at the sight of your beautifully diced onion for your red beans and rice.
I bake a lot of cupcakes. The biggest game changer for me was learning what a difference it makes to bake w/ room temperature butter and eggs. Makes batter making much easier and makes them much smoother and prettier. :)
Wooo I love to cook! Didn't know a thing until a year ago though and still have a lot to learn! Would love a copy, hopefully I get lucky! ;)
Started watching Hilah's podcasts a year ago and absolutely lover her! Her no-nonsense and funny approach to cooking is a welcome relief from all the stuffy, cookie-cutter chefs all over the tube now. I've seen a new, natural and healthy way of preparing simple meals, snacks and the ever popular adult beverages. It has inspired me to start my own cooking blog...once I get organized! Thanks Hilah!
I'm one of thos readers who learnt her way around the kitchen at an early age, thanks to a mum who let me stand on a chair beside her while she cooked, and a dad who always said, "Keep your tools sharp. They're safer that way." However, the greatest gift they gave me was a total lack of fear about cooking. Souffles? Yeah, I can do that - just let me read the recipe. Bread? Yup. Been making it since my teens. Pastry? Ditto. A lot of the things I learned to do, and not only in the kitchen, I've learned because there was no one standing behind me saying I couldn't do them. However, there's still a skill I want to gain - home brewing and wine making. Those would be entirely awesome,
I need to learn how to cook. My husband says that all of my food tastes like cardboard. When he cooks, the kids ask for seconds and thirds, when I cook, they ask "how many bites of this do I have to eat?".
I've learned that cooking with mayo is sometimes better than cooking with butter...not healthier but sure is delicious on some foods!
Learning how to bone chicken breast! No need to pay the higher cost to have the butcher do it and then I have the bones to make stock. Win, win!
Learning that I didn't have to follow a recipe word for word- I can now make things that reflect my family's tastes (and budget) better with the recipe as a "guide" rather than following it exactly
The best skill I've learned in the kitchen is how to properly cut things, lettuce in particular, by curling under my fingertips. Thankfully I didn't learn this the hard way!
Chopping an onion.
The biggest game changing moment for me was when I learned how to actually hold a chef's knife. I can actually chop veggies now. But I have so much to learn and a long way to go...